V-I RESOLUTIONS

Charles McNeal.

One of the most important things an improvisor has to learn is how to resolve a line or an idea. It
could be argued that you can play anything as long as you resolve it properly. One of the strongest resolutions
you will find is the "V7 to I" progression. Example: "C7 to F".
With these exercises I've compiled some strong melodic resolutions for the student to practice and learn in all
12 Keys. These ideas can be used anytime you have a dominant 7th chord resolving to a Major chord a 5th
away. You can also use these ideas if the dominant 7th chord moves to another dominant 7th chord a 5th away.
example: D7 to G7.
The ideas should be practiced with a metronome with the target tempo being 240 bpm. Start slow!!!
Play the written idea then transpose it to fit the next chord. If you have never transposed before, use the chord
tones to help you find the notes in the new key.Example: The first idea starts on the 5th of the G7 chord then
goes to the 7th, to the 6th, back to the 5th then jumps to the root, then the 7th to the 6th, back to the 5th and
lands on the root of the c major chord. The more you transpose the easier it will become.
Every idea or lick you learn should be taken through all 12 keys. You'll find that you favour playing certain
things in certain keys but you should not be limited to only playing an idea in one key.
The majority of these ideas are just 1 bar in length and can also be thought of as a short " II - V7 - I" idea.
Once you have learned the idea try to incoporate it as part of your improvised line not just a "lick" unto itself.
Try to play a line that leads into the idea and continues out of the idea.

1.

G7

Eb7

Ab

C7

F7

Bb

Bb7

Eb

Ab7

Db

C#7

F#

F#7

17

B7

E7

A7

D7

ETC. 3.
ETC .

25 2. G7

C7

G7

C7

C
C7
F
C
C7
F
ETC. 5. G7
ETC .

33 4. G7

41 6. G7

49 8. G7

G7

ETC .

C7

ETC. 7.

C7

ETC. 9. G7

C7

C7

ETC .

C
C7
F
F
ETC.11.G7
ETC .
C C7

5710.G7

ETC. 13.
ETC .

6512.G7

7314.G7

8116.G7

C7

G7

C7

C7

C7

ETC.15.G7

G7

C7

C7

ETC .

ETC. 17.
ETC .

C
C7
F
F
ETC. 19. G7
ETC .
C C7

8918.G7

C
C7
F
C
C7
F
ETC. 21. G7
ETC .

9720.G7

22.
105

G7

24.
113

C7

23.

ETC.

C7

ETC.

C7

ETC.

G7

G7

25.

G7

26.

121

G7

28.
129

G7

G7

27.

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .

ETC .

G7

30.

C7

29.

G7

C7

ETC.

31.

G7

137

32.
145

G7

C7

ETC.

33.

G7

C7

C7

C7

34.

G7

C7

ETC.

35.

G7

ETC .

153

36.
161

G7

C7

ETC.

37.
ETC.

G7

ETC .

38.
169

G7

C7

39.

G7

C7

40.

177

42.

G7

ETC.

ETC .

41.

C C7
F
ETC. G7
ETC .

C7

43.

F
ETC .
G7 C C7

185

G7

44.

C7

ETC.

C7

ETC.

G7

45.

G7

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .

193

46.
201

G7

C7

47.

G7

48.

209

G7

50.

ETC.

49.

F
ETC .
G7
C C7


C

C7

ETC.

G7

C7

ETC.

G7

C7

ETC.

C7

ETC.

51.

G7

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .

C7

217

52.

53.

225

54.
233

G7

G7

55.

G7

ETC .

3
3

5
56.

57.

C C7
F ETC.
G7
C
C7
F
ETC .

241

58.

G7

59.

G7
C
C7
F
ETC .

249

60.

G7

C7

ETC.

61.

C
C7
F
ETC. G7
ETC .

257

62.
265

G7

G7

C7

C7

63.
ETC.

G7

64.

C7

ETC .

65.

G7
C
C7
F
ETC .

273

66.

G7

G7

C7

ETC.

67.

ETC.
ETC .

281

C7

G7

C7

68.
289

70.
297

G7

69.

ETC .

G7

C7

C C7

ETC.

G7

71.

G7

C7

C7

72.

ETC.

73.

ETC .

G7
C
C7
F
ETC .

305

G7

C7

ETC.

6
74.

75.

G7
C
C7
F
ETC .

313

76.

G7

C7

ETC.

77.

321

G7

78.
329

G7

80.

C7

ETC.

G7

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .

C7

79.

G7

ETC.

81.

F
ETC.
ETC .
C C7
G7

337

G7

C7

82.
345

G7

C7

83.

G7

84.

ETC.

85.

C7

ETC .

353

361

G7

86.

C7

G7

ETC.

G7

C7

ETC .

C7

ETC .