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Cycle of 4ths

The cycle used in this exercise to move through all of the 12 keys is called
the cycle of 4ths. For those that are familiar with the cycle of 5ths, this is just
that cycle but moving in reverse. As the name suggests, each interval
between two different chords in the cycle is a Perfect 4th, which continues
through all of the keys until you return to your starting note.
Here is how the cycle looks starting on the note G.
G C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G
Notice that each chord moves down by the interval of a Perfect 4th, creating
the Cycle of 4ths mentioned above.
This sequence is beneficial for practicing chord voicings, as compared to
simply playing them chromatically up or down the neck, because it forces you
to think about which chord is next in the sequence, as well as allowing you to
move between multiple inversions as you progress through all 12 keys in the
cycle.
Now that you have a short background on the Cycle of 4ths, lets take a look
at how you can use this cycle to learn and practice Drop 2 Dominant 7th
chords.
Root Position and 2nd Inversion Drop 2 7th Chords
We are going to start these exercises with a root position G7 chord and work
it through all 12 keys using the cycle of 4ths as seen above.
When doing so, a pattern starts to emerge, which is the alteration of root
position (tonic in the bass) and 2nd inversion (5th in the bass) chords as you
move down the neck. Knowing this can help you memorize this exercise and
quickly find the closest next chord in the sequence.

Here is how this exercise looks on paper. Once you have it down starting on
G7, try starting this same exercise on all the other 11 7th chords in the
sequence and work your way around the cycle of 4ths from all 12 possible
root notes.

One of the cool side effects of alternating root position and 2nd inversion
chords is that you can do the reverse and it will also work out on the
fretboard. So, you can start this exercise on a 2nd inversion chord, such as
C7 in the example below, and then alternate 2nd inversion and root position
chords around the cycle of 4ths to cover all 12 keys on the neck.

!
This means that you if you learn the root-2nd inversion alternating exercise,
you have already learned the 2nd inversion root position alternating exercise
at the same time, effectively getting twice as much bang for your buck in the
woodshed.
1st and 3rd Inversion Drop 2 7th Chords
You can also work on drop 2 chords through the cycle of 4ths by alternating
1st (3rd in bass) and 3rd (7th in bass) voicings down the neck.
In the following example you can see that the first chord, F7, is in 1st
inversion and the second chord, Bb7, is in 3rd inversion, with this pattern
continuing down the neck through all 12 keys in the cycle of 4ths.

!
In the same way that you double-dipped with the root position and 2nd
inversion chords, if you start this exercise on the 3rd inversion and alternate it
with the 1st inversion you can work your way through all 12 keys in the cycle
of 4ths without having to learn anything new.
Here is how that would look starting with a Bb7 chord in 3rd inversion.

!
After you have explored these chords by starting in different keys, adding in
rhythmic variety and bringing them to a tune that has these changes, such as
Jordu or the bridge to Rhythm Changes, try applying these same
exercises to Drop 2 chords on the top and bottom four strings of the guitar.
Running 7th chords through the cycle of 4ths will not only help you get these
drop 2 chords under your fingers, but they will help you to see your neck
better and train your ears to hear this commonly used bass movement,
cycling in 4th intervals, all of which can help you reach the next level in your
development as a jazz guitarist.

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