Lesson Three

Turnarounds

Turnarounds are very important to master in all keys. They happen in the last two, or four bars of most songs, providing the necessary harmonic "gravity" to get you back to the top of the chart. They are also a great way to learn the basic chord substitutions, and voice leading techniques used in jazz.

Example One shows the basic turnaround chords in the key of F, also known as the I-VI-II-V progression.

FMa7  Dmi7

Gmi7  C7

(FMa7)

One of the first substitutions you will run into is found in Example Two, where a D7 is used instead of the original Dmi7 chord.

FMa7  D7

Gmi7  C7

(FMa7)

This is known as the "V of II" chord, or quite simply the VI7 chord. It's function is to set up the II chord. Changing it to a dominant chord from the original mi7 helps to create more tension, and a feeling of resolution once you land on the II chord. As a rule, you can remember that in jazz, more often than not, the VI chord is treated dominant.

Example Three is a single-note fine that "cuts" through the changes quite effectively. Notice the F# in the first bar. This is the characteristic note of the D7 chord, the only note that will tell the listener you have used D7 instead of Dmi7, as it is the Ma3rd of the chord. If we had used F natural, it would have implied a Dmi7 chord. The second bar uses notes from the altered scale over the C7 chord which provide tension until the line resolves to an A, the Ma3rd of the I chord (FMa7).

Example Four uses another common chord substitution, an Ami7 instead of the original FMa7 in the first bar. This is known as the III-VI-II-V progression, instead of the original I-VI-II-V. Notice that we now have two consecutive II-V progressions, the first: Ami7-D7, and the second: Gmi7-C7. In short: III has substituted for I. The single note line reflects this substitution accurately, beginning with an Ami7 arpeggio (A C E G).

The importance of turnarounds cannot be overemphasized. Write these lines out in all keys, practice them in different octaves as well. Jamey Aebersold's play-along package Turnarounds, Cycles, And II-Vs is an ideal practice tool which will enable you to play these examples with a rhythm section.

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