2-5-1 Progression

Learn Dolly Parton's Here You Come Again on piano — the intro riff, the bass line, every chord, and both key changes, from F# to G to Ab. This sounds like a simple pop song. It isn't. Most of the chords are sevenths, ninths and elevenths, and the whole song goes up a semitone — twice. So if you want to learn 2-5-1 progressions, slash chords and modulation from one song, this is a good one. We start with the intro riff. Your right hand holds an F# major chord and the thumb walks down — F#, F, Eb. Underneath, the left hand plays octaves: F#, Ab, Bb, B. The Ab isn't a chord. It's just the step that gets you to the Bb. The verse uses the same chords without the passing notes, then moves to Ebm7 and Abm7 — with the 7th in the bass — and two climbs over C#. The chorus is a 2-5-1 in A: Bm7, D/E, Amaj7, then G/A, the gospel 11th. Look at Bm7 and D/E. Your right hand doesn't move a single finger. Only the bass steps from B to E. That's the slash-chord rule — what's on the left of the slash goes in your right hand, the note on the right goes in your left. So Bm7 is really just D major over B. Then the song goes up to G, and up again to Ab for the outro. Nothing new to learn — the same shapes, a semitone higher. The one thing to watch: in G, the chorus starts on C minor instead of B minor. And if the licks aren't coming yet, just play through the chords. Here You Come Again was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and recorded by Dolly Parton in 1977. 🏫 Courses, Workshops or Private lessons ➡️ https://forms.gle/fsbhFKSgJbZ5xZEr8 📹 Everything for Life Bundle ➡️ https://learn-music.nathanielschool.com/ 🎹 Piano Courses ➡️ https://piano.nathanielschool.com 📺 RELATED LESSONS How to Play Slash Chords With Purpose on Piano (5 Pro Ways) ➡️ https://youtu.be/4LtOItbMiW0 Slash Chords vs Inversions on Piano ➡️ https://youtu.be/UhO-cWQLC-k Use SIMPLE Triads to Play COMPLEX Piano Chords: 7th Chords (Part 1) ➡️ https://youtu.be/1G6uZ0QRKN0 The 2-5-1 Jazz Piano Chord Progression Explained ➡️ https://youtu.be/SAOjr5ejxbs How to Read Chord Charts Like a Pro Musician ➡️ https://youtu.be/4qHUtgJ7XoE 🎓 https://nathanielschool.com 📚 All 1000+ free lessons ➡️ https://free-music-lessons.nathanielschool.com ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Here You Come Again — performance 00:52 - Why this song: Dolly Parton’s scale changes 02:43 - F# major: six sharps, and one is E# 02:56 - The intro chord: F#, F#maj7/Bb, Bmaj9 03:35 - The intro in three levels 04:56 - Octaves: hold the hand like a divider 05:28 - The bass lick: C#, Eb, Ab, Eb, F# 06:32 - The whole intro, slowly 07:11 - The verse 07:43 - Ebm7, Abm7 and the lick 08:11 - B over C# and the first climb 09:08 - Verse 2 and the second climb 10:04 - The chorus: a 2-5-1 into A 11:14 - Into E major: slash chords galore 11:54 - F#7, A over B, and the whole chorus 12:34 - Up to G: the guitar part 13:38 - Em7, Am7 and C over D 14:03 - The guitar solo on piano 14:58 - The chorus in G 15:47 - C over Bb into Ab: the outro 16:54 - Wrap-up 💛 Support these free lessons (PayPal) ➡️ https://geni.us/DonatePayPal 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/jasonzac 💬 WhatsApp ➡️ +91 77604 56847 · https://wa.me/917760456847 📧 music@nathanielschool.com #PianoLessons #PianoTutorial #MusicTheory #DollyParton

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Learn every 7th chord on piano with cascade, legato & staccato drills using a 2-5-1 progression in D major plus inversions. Learn every essential 7th chord on the piano in one focused workout! In this lesson, Jason Zac walks you through major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, minor 7 flat 5, and diminished 7 chords using the 2-5-1 progression in D major. You'll work through three powerful articulations — cascade, legato, and staccato — designed to bring real expression and control to your chord playing. These drills are essential for anyone who wants their voicings to sound smooth, intentional, and professional. We also break down all four inversions of each chord with a focus on smooth voice leading. You'll learn how to identify common tones, shift efficiently between chords, and stop making awkward jumps across the keyboard. This approach makes your chord changes effortless in both hands. The lesson then moves into the minor 2-5-1 progression in E harmonic minor, introducing the half-diminished chord, minor-major 7, and minor 6 voicings. These are essential colours for jazz, ballad, and modern piano playing. Whether you're an intermediate pianist learning jazz harmony, a self-taught player working on chord theory, or a student building your improvisation vocabulary — this is a workout you'll return to again and again. Get your keyboard out, practise along, and let us know in the comments what 7th chord topic we should cover next! 🏫 Courses, Workshops or Private lessons ➡️ https://forms.gle/fsbhFKSgJbZ5xZEr8 ============================= 📹 Our Video Courses (Everything for Life Bundle) - https://learn-music.nathanielschool.com/ 🏡 Visit our Channel for more Tutorials & Performances - https://geni.us/NathanielYouTube ============================= ▶️ Related Videos & Playlists 🎬 Compose with Dorian Mode & Chord Progressions - https://youtu.be/NCFZhIyG0Y8 🎯 Build Chords from the Major Scale - https://youtu.be/7sv_vrg8XTg 🔑 Practice Scales with Major-Minor Chord Pairs - https://youtu.be/kak4hvdjsY0 💡 Extend 7th Chords with Jazz Voicings - https://youtu.be/uuefI0cJcV4 📂 Jazz Lessons - Chords, Standards & Exercises - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNNL05e9FT9ZCriHyNonJasffWWSCS_E ============================= 🎓 Learn Music With Nathaniel School of Music & Jason Zac: https://nathanielschool.com 📚 All our YouTube lessons (1000+) categorised by skill level, topic & genre all in one place: https://free-music-lessons.nathanielschool.com ⏳ Chapter markers 00:00 - Performance 00:44 - Welcome & Lesson Overview 🎹 01:10 - What You’ll Learn: Every 7th Chord Type 01:20 - Choosing the Key of D Major 01:31 - The 2-5-1 Progression Explained 01:45 - Adding the Secondary Diminished Chord 02:30 - Preview of the Minor 2-5-1 03:49 - The Three Articulations: Cascade, Legato, Staccato 👐 04:56 - Building E Minor 7th Chord 🎵 06:22 - Cascade Drill on E Minor 7 06:42 - Legato Drill on E Minor 7 07:11 - Staccato Drill on E Minor 7 08:03 - Building A Dominant 7th Chord 08:34 - Articulation Drills on A7 08:52 - Building D Major 7th Chord 09:12 - Articulation Drills on D Major 7 09:24 - Splitting Hands: Legato Left, Staccato Right 09:36 - The D# Diminished 7th Passing Chord 10:00 - All Diminished 7ths Are Inversions of Each Other 10:22 - Why Inversions Improve Voice Leading 🔄 10:46 - Visualising Chord Shapes on the Keyboard 12:40 - Ṛoot Position 15:36 - First Inversion: E Minor 7 to A7 to D Major 7 16:40 - Finding Common Tones Between Chords 19:21 - Second Inversion of the 2-5-1 20:57 - Third Inversion of the 2-5-1 22:28 - Quick Chord Changes Within the Bar 23:03 - Moving to the Minor 2-5-1 in E Harmonic Minor 🎶 24:28 - Building F# Minor 7 Flat 5 (Half Diminished) 25:06 - Building B Dominant 7 25:20 - Introducing E Minor Major 7 and E Minor 6 26:44 - Quick Change Between Minor 6 and Minor Major 7 26:58 - Inversions of the Minor 2-5-1 27:37 - Practice Tips & MIDI Visualizer App 💰 Donate on PayPal: https://geni.us/DonatePayPal 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonzac 📞 +917760456847 (Mobile & WhatsApp) 📧 Customised & Private Classes: music@nathanielschool.com 🎧 Listen to Jason Zac Music: https://riffs.jasonzacmusic.com/ #SeventhChords #JazzPiano #PianoExercises

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Learn a few ways to easily shift between seventh chords and sound crystal clear in the lower register on the piano. Jason Zac from Nathaniel School of Music covers all the essential music theory of forming seventh chords, then voices them in different ways so your harmonic progressions sound smoother and richer. These voicings keep the lower register clean and clear while making the movement between chords far easier on the fingers. It's a practical, efficient approach to seventh-chord harmony that works for accompaniment, songwriting and solo piano. 🏫 Courses, Workshops or Private lessons ➡️ https://forms.gle/fsbhFKSgJbZ5xZEr8 00:00 - Advantanges of Seventh Chords 02:04 - Visualizing Seventh Chords 03:31 - Seventh Chords out there 04:40 - Voicing Method #1 06:22 - 3 7 & 7 3 Voicing 07:00 - Minor 7th 07:23 - minMaj7 07:39 - Voicing with Choir & Orchestra 08:07 - Ease of Shifting using ii - V - I 09:47 - Flipping 3 & 7 Intervals 10:57 - The Circle of Fifths Drill 11:58 - Memorize Seventh Chords Easily 12:36 - Triad + Seventh Interval Strategy 13:42 - Shift Between Seventh Chords 16:16 - Spread Voicing for the left Hand 17:44 - Contrast with Frequency ============================= 📹 Our Video Courses (Everything for Life Bundle) ➡️ https://learn-music.nathanielschool.com/ 🎹 Piano Courses & Private Lessons ➡️ https://piano.nathanielschool.com ============================= ▶️ Related Lessons & Playlists 🎵 Music Theory lessons ➡️ https://geni.us/PianoTheory 🎹 All our lessons on Chord Inversions (Playlist) ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNNL05e9FT9ygtrGwGFmfyvMyGWH52EC 👂 Ear Training lessons ➡️ https://geni.us/EarTraining ============================= 🎓 Learn Music with Nathaniel School of Music & Jason Zac ➡️ https://nathanielschool.com 📚 All our YouTube lessons (1000+) by skill level, topic & genre ➡️ https://learning-portal.nathanielschool.com ============================= 💰 Donate on PayPal ➡️ https://geni.us/DonatePayPal 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/jasonzac 📞 +91 77604 56847 (Mobile & WhatsApp) 📧 Customised & Private Classes ➡️ music@nathanielschool.com 🎧 Listen to Jason Zac Music ➡️ https://riffs.jasonzacmusic.com/ #SeventhChords #PianoVoicings #PianoChords

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Explore the magic of the Dominant 7th chord from various melodic and harmonic perspectives in this composition lesson. Jason Zac from Nathaniel School of Music reveals a few things you might not know about the Dominant 7th chord, looking at it from both melodic and harmonic angles. You'll cover the essential theory of jazz tensions, extensions, secondary dominants, tritone substitutions and blues scales, all built around this one powerful chord. 🏫 Courses, Workshops or Private lessons ➡️ https://forms.gle/fsbhFKSgJbZ5xZEr8 00:00 - Performance 00:47 - Dominant 7th Chord Formation 01:23 - Easy Formation with respect to Triads 03:02 - Chromatic Slide 04:36 - Tritone Inversions 06:23 - 2 - 5 - 1 Progression 08:03 - All Tensions Work 10:54 - Tensions Explained 14:11 - Secondary Dominants 17:13 - Major & Minor Blues Scales 18:46 - 12 Bar Blues 19:56 - Revision ============================= 📹 Our Video Courses (Everything for Life Bundle) ➡️ https://learn-music.nathanielschool.com/ 🎹 Piano Courses & Private Lessons ➡️ https://piano.nathanielschool.com ============================= ▶️ Related Lessons & Playlists 🎵 Music Theory lessons ➡️ https://geni.us/PianoTheory 🎹 All our lessons on Chord Inversions (Playlist) ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNNL05e9FT9ygtrGwGFmfyvMyGWH52EC 👂 Ear Training lessons ➡️ https://geni.us/EarTraining ============================= 🎓 Learn Music with Nathaniel School of Music & Jason Zac ➡️ https://nathanielschool.com 📚 All our YouTube lessons (1000+) by skill level, topic & genre ➡️ https://learning-portal.nathanielschool.com ============================= 💰 Donate on PayPal ➡️ https://geni.us/DonatePayPal 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/jasonzac 📞 +91 77604 56847 (Mobile & WhatsApp) 📧 Customised & Private Classes ➡️ music@nathanielschool.com 🎧 Listen to Jason Zac Music ➡️ https://riffs.jasonzacmusic.com/ #Dominant7thChord #PianoChords #MusicTheory

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