Yesterday, in Keyboard Skills Elective, we did this. I call it the Caterpillar because of the way the chord kind of compresses, and it’s probably one of the most fundamental bits of left-hand kit that you can put underneath your fingers. Not only is it the backbone of the venerable 2-5-1 progression, it can be expanded or reshaped or adapted into all sorts of different variations.
Some of these can sound pretty expensive, but some of them are actually simpler than the exercise I’m showing you. Like this one, where the entire motion of the chord is being abbreviated with just one finger. Be half-diminished, rootless A7 with a flat 9, A minor 7, rootless D9.
The little caterpillar packs a massive punch and you can share it with someone who belongs in a beat-kitchen class.
