Purpose

If you’d like to improvise, be it changing the melody or ‘scat’ solos, it’s really handy to be able to recognize the sound of chords.

Sure, it’s handy to be able to name them and find their notes on an instrument. But as a singer, you can’t just press ‘buttons’ to make tones appear. You’ll have to picture/hear/imagine them first. In your head. And then sing them. Preferably with accurate pitch. You’ll hardly have time to think.

So unless you’re planning to study frequently with an instrument and plan your improvisations – which is less improvisation and more composing, but it’s an option – you’d be better of just training your musical hearing.

These videos enable you to do just that. No need to know which chord is being played. Just train yourself to sing notes that go well with the chords. You’ll learn all about this in the “How to improvise” section of Jazz Singers Essentials.

And as a nice bonus, the videos can be used as voice exercises. Just sing along.

Still, if you’d like to be able to read chord symbols – it’s handy to understand music charts, to be able to accompany yourself on an instrument as well as to master improvisation the alternative way via music theory – it’s all in the theory guide.

On to the videos!

Index

  • 00:00 minutes – triads
  • 02:22 minutes – 6, 7 and ∆ chords
  • 06:56 minutes – triads through all 12 keys
  • 10:50 minutes – II-V-I in major and minor (most common chord progression)

Train your ears in 13 minutes – and your voice if you wish, by singing along.

Part 2

A 5-minute video of (jazz) chords with 9,11,13’s. For ear training. Can be used as voice exercises.

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