“Coupling”

A “couple,” as described in the course, is basically a 2-part chord progression. It consists of one
chord pulling very aggressively to another chord.
1-2, 1-3, 1-4,
1-5, 1-6, 1-7,
2-5, 2-6, 3-6,
3-4, 4-5, 4-3,
4-6, 4-7, 5-1,
5-2, 5-4, 6-2,
6-7, 7-3, etc.
Now most of you understand progressions like “2-5-1,” “6-2-5-1,” and “7-3-6-2-5-1” .
“Couples” create these larger progressions. For example, a “2-5-1” is made up of two small
couples:
A “2-5” couple and a “5-1” couple.
Another example would be a “6-2-5-1” progressions, which is very common in gospel praise songs
and even in slower tunes. This larger progressions has three smaller couples within it:
A “6-2”, “2-5”, and “5-1” couple.
Let’s say you’re in the key of Db major.
First, you would have to know the Db major scale.
Db major scale: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
But memorizing scales alone will not allow you to play by ear. You have to understand the grand
scheme of things. The scales provide the numbers and that’s what you need to understand with your
eyes closed.
Db = 1
Eb = 2
F=3
Gb = 4
Ab = 5
Bb = 6
C=7
Db = 8 (same as 1)
It’s like not knowing what’s after “J” in the alphabet without having to sing your “ABC’s” from the
beginning. You don’t want to know what comes after “J” by having to sing the entire song from the
beginning. That’s what slows you down

YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS WITHOUT
HAVING TO RECITE THE MAJOR SCALE.
For example, here’s the keynotes of a “2-5” couple in multiple keys.
C major: D to G
F major: G to C
Bb major: C to F
Eb major: F to Bb
Ab major: Bb to Eb
Moving On…
A “1-2” couple means a chord based on the 1st tone of the scale leading to a chord based on the
2nd tone of the same scale. An example in the key of Db would be: Dbmaj9 to Eb9. The Dbmaj9
is a “1” chord because “Db” is the 1st tone of the scale and the Eb9 is a “2” chord because “Eb” is
the 2nd tone of the scale.
A “1-3” couple means a chord based on the 1st tone of the scale leading to a chord based on the
3rd tone of the same scale. An example in the key of Db would be: Dbmaj7 to F7 (b9). The
Dbmaj9 is a “1” chord because “Db” is the 1st tone of the scale and the F7(b9) is a “3” chord
because “F” is the 3rd tone of the scale.
A “2-5” couple means a chord based on the 2nd tone of the scale leading to a chord based on the
5th tone of the same scale. An example in the key of Db would be: Eb9 to Ab13. The Eb9 is a “2”
chord because “Eb” is the 2nd tone of the scale and the Ab13 is a “5” chord because “Ab” is the 5th
tone of the scale.
And the list goes on and on:
3-4, 4-5, 4-3,
4-6, 4-7, 5-1,
5-2, 5-4, 6-2,
6-7, 7-3, etc.
Putting It All Together…
Key of Db Major:
Scale: Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C – Db
#’s: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
An Example of a “1” chord:
Db on left hand / Bb + Eb + Ab on right hand
An Example of a “2” chord:
Eb on left hand / G + C + Db + F on right hand
An Example of a “3” chord:
F on left hand / A + Db + Eb + Ab on right hand
An Example of a “4” chord:
Gb on left hand / F + Bb + Db on right hand
An Example of a “5” chord:
Ab on left hand / Gb + Bb + Db + F on right hand
An Example of a “6” chord:
Bb on left hand / Ab + C + Db + F on right hand
An Example of a “7” chord:
C on left hand / Eb + G + Bb + D
Take chords from each tone of the scale and combine them together to make small couples. Try
doing this with the list above.
Take the “1” chord and “3” chord and play them one after the other.
Then take that same “3” chord above, add the “6” chord, and play them one after the other.
In this example, you’ve just played a “1-3” couple followed by a “3-6” couple. Since the “3”
chords are the same in both couples, if you were to play a “1-3” to a “3-6,” you wouldn’t have to
repeat the “3” since you’re already playing it.
That same “1-3-6” progression is used to begin “Thank You Lord”, “I Really Love the Lord,”
“Silver and Gold” by Kirk Franklin, “Like the Dew in the Morning,” “Trouble Don’t Last Always,”
and a host of other ones! I could literally go on and on and on…