RUN THE CHANGES
Interactive ii⁷–V⁷–Imaj⁷ Vocabulary Lab & Transposition Engine
Choose Short or Long ii7–V7–Imaj7, then advance through your 30-lick library. Your transposition format stays put — set it once for your horn and keep running new lines.
Performance Notes
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Woodshed Routine Logs
Log your daily completed tempos and keys. Aim to master every line around all 12 keys.
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How to Practice ii–V–I Chord Progressions
Run the Changes is an interactive ii–V–I jazz lick generator for players who want to turn chord-scale knowledge into real improvisational vocabulary. The tool focuses on short and long ii⁷–V⁷–Imaj⁷ progressions, so students can hear how a line moves through predominant, dominant, and tonic harmony instead of practicing isolated scales.
Use it as a daily jazz improvisation practice tool: choose a phrase, listen to the contour, play it slowly, move it through several keys, then bring it up to tempo. The goal is not to memorize licks mechanically. The goal is to internalize bebop language, modern jazz motion, altered dominant sound, diminished and whole-tone color, pentatonic shapes, and side-slipping ideas until they become available in real time.
Built for Transposing Instruments
This online jazz transposition engine is designed for real players in real rehearsal situations. C concert instruments can practice directly in concert pitch. B♭ trumpet, tenor saxophone, clarinet, and other B♭ instruments can switch formats instantly. E♭ alto saxophone and baritone saxophone players can work from their own transposed parts. Bass clef players, including trombone, euphonium, tuba, bass, and piano left hand, can also use the tool for practical jazz vocabulary work.
Vocabulary Filters
The vocabulary filters help players focus their practice. Bebop lines emphasize chromatic approach tones, enclosures, and rhythmic placement. Hard bop and soul jazz examples lean into blues color, motivic punch, and groove-based phrasing. Cool and stepwise lines clarify voice leading. Modern and quartal lines open up wider intervallic movement. Altered dominant, diminished, whole-tone, pentatonic, and side-slipping filters help players isolate the sounds they need for more advanced improvisation.
For Students, Teachers, and Working Musicians
Run the Changes works as a jazz classroom tool, a private lesson resource, and a personal practice companion. Teachers can assign a lick, key, tempo, and vocabulary type. Students can log completed runs and track progress across keys. Working musicians can use the generator to refresh ii–V–I language before rehearsals, gigs, auditions, jam sessions, or transcription work.
Suggested Practice Routine
Start with one short ii–V–I lick in C. Sing it before touching the instrument. Play it slowly with the metronome. Move it to F, B♭, E♭, A♭, and D♭. Then take it around the rest of the circle of fifths. Once the line feels natural, switch to a long ii–V–I phrase and repeat the process. The strongest practice happens when sound, fingering, harmonic function, and time feel are learned together.