Not too far down the road from our long-form major ii–V–I phrases, we arrive at their short-form counterparts.

The key difference here is in the rhythm: instead of one bar per chord, the ii and V are squeezed into a single bar—two beats each—before resolving to the I. Just like before, let your ear lead the way. Focus on the phrases that resonate with you, and don’t forget to apply the Sourdough Starter mindset—those small ideas can still yield big results.

Here’s a little trade secret: you can often take a long-form phrase and start it from the V chord—it’ll still work beautifully in the short-form. In fact, it’s common to treat the entire ii–V as if it were just the V, especially when time is tight.

Have fun with it—and see where these compact ideas can take you!

Performance Video