How to Solo over a II-V-I Chord Progression (L#1-2-3)

‘HOW TO SOLO OVER A II V I CHORD PROGRESSION’ BASS TUTORIAL SHOWS YOU HOW TO APPROACH SOLOING AND IMPROVISATION OVER THIS COMMON TURNAROUND ON THE BASS GUITAR.

Coming up with new and interesting ways of soloing over a II V I progression on the bass can be a great way to spend an afternoon... or a lifetime! This chord progression is probably the most frequently used turnaround in music. It can be heard in all styles from pop and jazz to funk and classical. It is used extensively in jazz standards so it's important that you not only understand it, but know how to approach it from a soloing and improvisational stand point as well.

Learning to play over this progression and being able to use the different scales and arpeggio substitutions is an invaluable practice method for soloing on the bass and is something that will really help every aspect of your playing. Be patient and methodical within your practice, it sometimes takes a while for your ear to get used to the sound of certain substitutions. Soon you will start to hear the substitutions discussed in these tutorials in many of the solo's you have listened to or transcribed in the past.

Here is a list of just a few standards that use a lot of II V I's. Take a look at the lead sheets for them and see if you can apply some of the substitutions I discuss in the following video tutorials.... Autumn Leaves, All the things you are, Stella by Starlight, The Days of Wine and Roses, Beautiful Love, I Love You, Alone Together, What Is This Thing Called Love.

Get in the shed and good luck! S.

Oh... and of course, I highly recommend you practice over backing tracks, be it mine or others you may have.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3