jazz piano chords chart with fingers pdf

The diminished triad uses a minor third, and a lowered fifth, called a “diminished fifth.” A diminished fifth is three whole-steps, or six half-steps, above the root note. The third interval in a minor chord is called a “minor third.” The fifth interval in a minor chord is the same as in a major chord, the interval of a “perfect fifth.” Most rock and pop songs use a mixture of major and minor piano chords. “Comfortably Numb” is an example of a rock song that begins with a minor chord. Minor chords are also very common in rock and pop music. From the third, count two whole-steps (or four half steps) to find the fifth. To play a minor chord, select any root note, then count three half-steps up to the third. Let’s look at another example of drop 2 voicings on the classic jazz standard “ The Days of Wine and Roses.” In this example we’ll look at measures 25-26.Minor chords, like major chords, contain three basic keyboard notes, a root note, third, and fifth. ĭrop 2 Chords on “The Days of Wine and Roses” This results in an open-position chord which has wider spacing between the notes of the chord and therefore sounds a bit larger. In order to create drop 2 chords, we simply take the second highest note in each chord and drop it down one octave (i.e., “drop 2” = move the 2nd note from the top down an octave).

The next step is to harmonize this passage in closed-position voicings using Dm7 and D7 harmonies, such as this:

Here is the lead sheet version of the measure: On this arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “ In a Sentimental Mood” drop 2 voicings are used in measure 5 as the melody ascends. One particularly effective use is to harmonize melodies on jazz standards. As pianists we are especially fortunate because drop 2 chords sound great at the piano and can be used at slow and fast tempos. Many composers and arrangers have used this device when writing big band music and scoring for saxes and brass instruments. Play these two chords at the piano to hear the difference between the two.ĭrop 2 chords are very useful in all kinds of jazz arranging. On the right we have the same D minor 7 as a drop 2 chord, now in open-position (larger than a one octave range): On the left we have a D minor 7 chord in root position (closed-position because the entire chord is within an octave range). Drop 2 chords (or drop 2 voicings) refer to taking a closed-position chord and dropping the second-highest note down an octave in order to create an open-position chord.

“Closed-position” refers to a chord within an octave range or less, while “open-position” refers to a range larger than an octave.

Jazz piano chords chart with fingers pdf