Grab your instrument, and try one of the most elegant sequences!
The Descending 7-6 Sequence.
- Play ① ⑦ ⑥ ⑤ in G major (the circled numbers are scale degrees).
- Add the diatonic 3rd above each note (don’t worry if the 3rd are major or minor, just make sure they are diatonic 3rds).
- Keep the 3rds. Above ① add a 5th then a 6th, hold the 6th as the bass moves to ⑦ and the 6th turns into a 7th. Let the 7th fall to a 6th. Do it again, hold the 6th as the bass moves to ⑥ and the 6th turns into a 7th. Let the 7th fall to a 6th.
- Keep this pattern going and you’ve got a descending 7-6 sequence! Keep the bassline going down by step past scale degree ⑤ and keep repeating the same 7-6 pattern above the bass notes.
Are you up for a challenge?
Try transposing the descending 7-6 sequence to A minor and F major.
- To transpose, all you have to do is replace “G major” with any other key.
- If you are transposing to minor, use the natural minor scale.
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