Jazzy sounding 2/5 combo

[feloniuspunk]

Here’s a jazzy sounding 2/5 turnaround I find myself using more and more to tickle ears with. For this example we’re in the key of Eb major so Fm7 and Bb7 are the 2/5 chords. The 2 chord is a normal minor 7 but I’m adding some interesting embellishments to the 5 chord as you can see, making it a 13 flat 9 instead of a plain old dominant 7. The reason for doing that will soon become apparent.

Here they are on the top four strings.

Fm7
E) - - - - - - - x - - - - - - - C
B) - - - - - - - - x - - - - - - Ab
G) - - - - - - - x - - - - - - - Eb
D) - - - - - x - - - - - - - - - Ab
A) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

Bb13b9
E) - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - B
B) - - - - - - - x - - - - - - - G
G) - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - D
D) - - - - - x - - - - - - - - - Ab
A) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

Here they are on the inner four strings:

Fm7
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
B) - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - C
G) - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - Ab
D) - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - Eb
A) - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - Ab
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

Bb13b9
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
B) - - - - - - - - - - - x - - - B
G) - - - - - - - - - - - x - - - G
D) - - - - - - - - - - - x - - - D
A) - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - Ab
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

For me the voicings on the inner four strings are a little easier to hold than the voicings on the top four strings. The inner four strings also have a better tone IMO.

The neat sound is the voice movement from one to the other. There are three notes in each chord that move down a half step while anchoring the whole thing with the Ab note (which changes from being the minor 3 in the 2 chord to being the 7 in the 5 chord.) I use this in songs like “There Will Never Be Another You” to great effect for the turnaround.

[Dan Desy]

I'm not worthy....

[TRandy16]

Here’s a jazzy sounding 2/5 turnaround I find myself using more and more to tickle ears with. For this example we’re in the key of Eb major so Fm7 and Bb7 are the 2/5 chords. The 2 chord is a normal minor 7 but I’m adding some interesting embellishments to the 5 chord as you can see, making it a 13 flat 9 instead of a plain old dominant 7. The reason for doing that will soon become apparent.

Here they are on the top four strings.

Fm7
E) - - - - - - - x - - - - - - - C
B) - - - - - - - - x - - - - - - Ab
G) - - - - - - - x - - - - - - - Eb
D) - - - - - x - - - - - - - - - Ab
A) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

Bb13b9
E) - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - B
B) - - - - - - - x - - - - - - - G
G) - - - - - - x - - - - - - - - D
D) - - - - - x - - - - - - - - - Ab
A) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

Here they are on the inner four strings:

Fm7
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
B) - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - C
G) - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - Ab
D) - - - - - - - - - - - - x - - Eb
A) - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - Ab
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

Bb13b9
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute
B) - - - - - - - - - - - x - - - B
G) - - - - - - - - - - - x - - - G
D) - - - - - - - - - - - x - - - D
A) - - - - - - - - - - x - - - - Ab
E) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mute

For me the voicings on the inner four strings are a little easier to hold than the voicings on the top four strings. The inner four strings also have a better tone IMO.

The neat sound is the voice movement from one to the other. There are three notes in each chord that move down a half step while anchoring the whole thing with the Ab note (which changes from being the minor 3 in the 2 chord to being the 7 in the 5 chord.) I use this in songs like “There Will Never Be Another You” to great effect for the turnaround.Very cool. What do you think of this within the above mentioned confines?

Instead of Fm7 let's go Fm9 (or maybe Fm11?) to Bb13b9 and resolve to Ebmaj/min9....for a fun "outside" jazz chord when using the Ebmaj/min9 chord at the end of a tune...make it Ebmaj/min9sus4...with the "sus4" being an Ab on the low "E" string.

BTW Nick...you're an astounding mathmetician...because that's what music theory actually is...right? It's math!!

[feloniuspunk]

Actually math is involved in music theory and harmony. I try to keep it simple though, no numbers above 13 right? It always amazes me how many guitar players I'll meet who can play their asses off and knew theory out the whazoo but who then turn around and claim to know nothing at all about math or that they are very bad at it. I guess the simple connection between math and music just remains obscure to them. I have studied all kinds of math, calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, statistics, etc. But remember (from the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy) that the answer to the ultimate question in the universe is 42.

Music is kind of like the alphabet. Once you learn all the notes and where they are and how to play them and put them together, as with letters, you can make up words and sentences and express yourself in a whole new language. We take reading and writing for granted (those of us who stayed awake in English class). I try to get to that same level with music, to understand it so completely that I don't have to think about it.