Chord Climbing on Piano: Add Tension With Slash Chords, Resolve With the Circle of Fifths

Chord climbing moves a progression up a whole tone scale (C, D, E, F#, Ab, Bb, C) and inserts the dominant of each target chord as a slash chord with its third in the bass, such as A/C# before D, so the bass line climbs chromatically through tension and resolution.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 10 min

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What this lesson teaches

In this lesson Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music explains a technique he calls chord climbing. You move up step by step so that your bass line climbs chromatically: C, C#, D, D#, E and so on. Along the way you alternate between resolution and tension. You start on a resolved chord, move to a tense chord, and that tension pulls you to the next resolved chord.

It suits intermediate players who know their major and minor triads and have met the Circle of Fifths. It is shown on piano, but it works on any instrument that plays chords or bass lines, including guitar and bass.

Step 1: Choose your landing chords from a whole tone scale

A whole tone scale moves only in whole tones. Starting on C, you get C, D, E, F#, G# (Ab), A# (Bb) and back to C. That is six notes, and the final C is just a repeat of the root.

These six notes are your target or landing chords. Each one can be major or minor. Both are resolved sounds, so either works.

There are only two whole tone scales. The second one can start on B (or C#, because it cycles round): B, C#, D#, F, G, A.

Step 2: Understand slash chords

A slash chord is a normal chord played over a different bass note. A major is built from A, C# and E. With A in the bass it is a plain A major chord. With C# in the bass it becomes A/C#. In this lesson the bass is always the chord's third. That adds a good amount of tension while keeping the major or minor character of the chord.

Step 3: Use the Circle of Fifths to find the connecting chord

To get from one target chord to the next, look up the next target on the Circle of Fifths. Take the chord a fifth above it, which is its neighbouring note on the circle. To reach D, you go via A. Then play that connecting chord as a slash chord with its third in the bass. So C moves to A/C#, which resolves to D.

The full climb from C

1. C (major or minor). Bass: C
2. A/C#, tension leading to D. Bass: C#
3. D (major or minor). Bass: D
4. B/D#, tension leading to E. Bass: D#
5. E (major or minor). Bass: E
6. C#/F (also written Db/F), tension leading to F#. Its third is E#, which is simply F. Bass: F
7. F# (major or minor). Bass: F#
8. Eb/G, tension leading to Ab. Bass: G
9. Ab (major or minor). Bass: Ab
10. F/A, tension leading to Bb. Bass: A
11. Bb (major or minor). Bass: Bb
12. G/B, tension leading back to C. Bass: B
13. C, the climb is complete.

Watch your left hand. It moves up one semitone at a time through all twelve notes, even though the landing chords are a whole tone apart.

Mixing major and minor

In the demonstration Jason Zac mixes landing chords freely. For example, C major goes through A/C# to D minor, and B/D# then lands on E major. This dominant-style resolution works whether you land on a major or a minor chord.

How to practise

• Write the chords down first rather than guessing them on the keyboard. Name each target, find the chord a fifth above it on the Circle of Fifths, then put that chord's third in the bass.
• Play the climb slowly from C. Listen for the pull of each slash chord towards its target.
• Try different major and minor choices for the landing chords.
• As homework, work out the same climb starting on B, using the second whole tone scale.

Questions about this lesson

What is chord climbing on piano?

Chord climbing is a progression whose bass rises chromatically. It alternates resolved chords on a whole tone scale with tense slash chords that lead into each one.

How do I find the slash chord between C and D?

Find the chord a fifth above the target D on the Circle of Fifths, which is A. Play it with its third, C#, in the bass, giving A/C#, which resolves to D.

Do the landing chords have to be major?

No. Each landing chord can be major or minor, because both are resolved sounds and the dominant-style slash chord leads well into either.

Can I use chord climbing on guitar or bass?

Yes. The idea works on any instrument that plays chords or bass lines, including piano, guitar and bass.

Practise it

• Circle of FifthsExplore the Circle of Fifths through keys, scales, chords and intervals.
• Chord TreesStart from a note and explore related chords, inversions and voicings.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

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