Randy Johnston's Back Cycle Strategies-The LINK to the ii-V-I

Randy Johnston breaks down the back cycle — the chain of dominant chords that carries you from the I chord back around to the ii — one of the most important harmonic devices in standard-era jazz and bebop. Building on his earlier class on ii-V-I lines, Randy shows how the back cycle is derived, why it works, and how to use it in both your comping and your soloing.

What's covered

• How the back cycle is derived and why it shows up in so many tunes
• The diminished-seventh connection: how one diminished chord functions as four different dominant 7♭9 chords
• Specific written lines to play over the back cycle examples, plus hints for creating your own lines and melodies
• Applying the back cycle to standards like Have You Met Miss Jones and It Could Happen to You
• Using it in the blues turnaround, where the I chord cycles back to the ii
• Chord voicings and lines worked out in two very common keys

An intermediate class for players who want their improvising and comping to flow more naturally through the progressions found in almost every standard and bebop tune.

Running time: 41 minutes. 2-page PDF included.