How To Practice Major & Minor 251s
In this lesson we’re going to explore some rootless 251 practice exercises using the iRealPro App.
If you haven’t already, check out the lessons on the rootless major 251 progression and also the minor 251 progression. It’s important to understand the theory covered in these tutorials.
251s are the most common progression in jazz music so it’s extremely important that you can build and play 251s in all 12 keys. These progressions are essential components of the jazz language and so taking the time to learn and memorise them will greatly benefit your playing.
Generally when we are learning jazz, we tend to repeat the easier key signatures such as C major, and then neglect the more challenging keys such as Gb Major.
In the same way with minor keys, you will probably have a good understanding of the scales and chords in D minor but moving up a half step you may find it challenging to identify the same chords and scales in Eb Minor.
This is one of the reasons why the iReapPro app is very useful, the practice exercises encourage you to practice chords and progressions in all 12 keys to become a more well rounded jazz pianist.
First of all let’s look at how to download the jazz piano practice exercises using the iReal Pro and then also show you some additional features of the app which will help focus and improve your practice sessions.
Lesson Downloads
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Rootless Major 251 Progressions – 12 Keys File Type: pdf
Practice Tips
Download the iRealPro App - this should be an essential tool in your journey to learn jazz piano.
Next navigate to the forum and browse through the jazz practice exercises. Download any of the major and minor 251 exercises. Remember that you can loop sections of the exercise by clicking and dragging on the bars (or press and drag with your finger if you are using a tablet).
You can also download the 1300 standards pack which gives you the backing tracks for most of the jazz standard repertoire.
Happy practicing!
Hi Hayden!Can you elaborate a bit more on flat and sharp extensions in the context of a 251?Thanks?
Hi Ivan,
Yes there are 4 possible alterations – b9, #9, #11, and #5/b13.
You can add these to dominant chords to create more interesting colours and textures in your 251 progressions.
The first lesson in this course contains some nice easy examples for beginner students: https://www.pianogroove.com/jazz-piano-lessons/altered-harmony-upper-structure-triads/
and then if you like alterations, you would certainly like to learn about Upper Structure Triads which are beautiful chord voicings.
Check out the course preview video in the top left of the screen, and that will give you an idea for what is included.
Cheers,
Hayden
Thanks for the answer.And sorry that i asked the same question twice (without knowing lol).But i m working my progress in a very strict(and slow) pattern só i m trying to be more careful about the order i take the lessons …i m learning a lot of new conceps só i m taking little steps until i reach the more difficult ones ..(Intermediate level).But i m going to reach it soon!Thks
Ivan, you can ask me all of the questions you need, and I will always be here to help.
I’d recommend that you start watching the alterations course, it all ties together, and so you will see lots of similarities and overlaps.
This material (251s – major, rootless, & minor) are a huge area of study. It will take years to fully learn these progression, and so you should be experimenting with other areas too.
I will soon be making a practice schedule for this course, and so that should help you bring clarity and focus to your learning journey.
Enjoy the lessons!
Hayden
Hello Hayden good afternoon. I have a question.If i want to makes this exercises more fun wich types of imprivisation tools you can do here?Thks 🙂
Hey Ivan,
The most effective thing we can do is take any 251 line (we must transcribe these ourselves) and then take it around all 12 keys.
Then simply repeat the process and gradually add these sounds, phrases, and ideas to our improvisational vocabulary.
I can demonstrate how I do this for you, but ultimately we must all do it ourselves, it’s not something we can just copy, like chord voicing for example, and learn. Because there is so much more to improvising a solo…. such as the feel, the rhythm, the articulation, and you can only absorb this though listening, transcribing, and emulating.
Are you actively transcribing from records?
Cheers,
Hayden
Hi Hayden,
In your written instructions for these 251 drills, you ask that we play eventually play them with iREalPro in swing rhythm, and then that we try “comping with the chords by playing them multiple times per bar and by syncopating the rhythm.“
Is there somewhere where you have demonstrated this?
Thanks!
Hi Mary,
I replied to your question in the forum area. Here is a link for other students in case they are wondering the same thing: https://community.pianogroove.com/t/spicing-up-2-5-1-drills/8024/
Cheers,
Hayden
I think I asked before but received no response. How do I access and use the IRealPro app?
Hi Carl,
Yes please see this forum thread which contains a details setup guide on how to download the app and add the tunes: https://community.pianogroove.com/t/irealpro-backing-tracks-setup/651/
If you have any questions please post them in that thread and the community will be happy to assist you.
Cheers,
Hayden