Re: [Harp-L] II V I

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

There are two kinds of II V I's, major and minor.  In a major pattern
in the key of C, the II would be a D minor 7, the V would be a G7 and
the I would be a C major 7.  The most appropriate scale over the II
would be a D dorian scale (otherwise thought of as a mode of C major),
the most appropriate scale for the G7 would be G mixolydian (otherwise
thought of as G major) and the most appropriate scale for the Cmaj7
would be C major.  That means you could play the C major scale over
all the bars of that pattern.

In Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me by Ellington/Russell, found on
page 107 of The Real Book Volume II Second edition, The first chord is
Gmaj7.  This does not look like a II V I, but the very last bar of the
tune is split into chords played for two beats.  The chords are A-7
and D7, The II and V of G.  When song returns to the beginning of the
tune it completes the II V I.

The next chords in the tunes second bar (two beats each) are D-7 and
G7.  The next bar is Cmaj7.  That is a II V I in C.  So the first (and
last bar) of the song is G major and the second and third bar is C
major.  At the second ending of the A section moving into the B
section there is a II V I in Eb.  There are other examples in the song
that you can locate now that you hopefully get the idea.

I see major II V I's EVERYWHERE and not just in jazz.

The other II V I is minor and it is what we have been discussing.  I
am new to really exploring this idea and do not have a tune right off
of my head.  I just searched thru the real book and found lots of
examples that were close to this pattern with slight alterations in
the chord but after 10 minutes awake without coffee, I am done
researching.  Tag, anyone?
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On 1/9/10, Mick Zaklan <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>   You know, for years I've been hearing about how essential it is to know
> how to play this chord progression.  That it encompasses many jazz tunes and
> standards.  But everytime I ask a musician to name an actual freaking tune
> that follows this progression, all I get are vague answers.  "Oh, there are
> many tunes" or "you've heard it a million times" or "you'll know it when you
> hear it".  Or "you've probably played it before, you just didn't realize
> it".  I'm beginning to believe that it's a hoax.
>   If I pick up a C harp and attempt to string a few bars together playing
> in the keys of D, G, and C, it makes absolutely no sense to me.  I can't
> imagine what sequence these chords or keys would be organized into and what
> sort of popular, well-known melody would fit over it.
>   So, somebody please give me a straight answer.  Name a tune.  Because I'm
> telling you, I've asked around about this and I'm tired of hearing "oh, that
> progression is all over the place".
>
> Mick Zaklan
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