What Makes a Chord “Neo Soul”?
Neo soul chords often use jazzy extensions, added tones, and creative voicings. You’ll frequently find chords like minor 9th (m9), major 7th (maj7), dominant 13th (13), and chords with altered notes (like #9 or b13). These chords are designed to be expressive, adding tension and release to your playing.
Common Neo Soul Chord Types:
Minor 7th, Minor 9th
Major 7th, Major 9th
Dominant 7th, 9th, 13th
Sus2, Sus4, Add9
Chords with altered extensions (b9, #9, #11, b13)
Start by familiarizing yourself with these voicings. If you’re a guitarist, learn their shapes up and down the neck. If you’re a keyboardist, practice their inversions and how they fit under your fingers.
Build an Efficient Practice Routine
One of the biggest traps when learning new chords is simply running through them randomly or only playing what’s comfortable. To see real progress, structure your practice. Here’s how:
Warm Up: Start with a simple progression or some finger exercises to loosen up.
Segment Your Practice: Break your session into blocks—voicing drills, progression practice, rhythm/groove work, and improvisation.
Keep It Manageable: Even 20–30 minutes of focused practice is better than hours of unfocused noodling.
Sample 30-Minute Session:
5 min: Finger warm-ups
10 min: Drill 2–3 new voicings in several keys
10 min: Cycle through 2–3 neo soul progressions
5 min: Play along with a favorite song or backing track
3. Practice Chord Voicings in All Keys
Neo soul isn’t about memorizing one or two progressions—you want to be able to move freely in any key. Take a chord shape (for example, Cm9) and play it in every key, up and down the fretboard or keyboard. This not only helps you master the fingerings, but also trains your ear and muscle memory.
Pro Tip:
Use a metronome or slow backing track. This builds your internal sense of groove and keeps your playing tight.
Master Common Progressions and Voice Leading
Neo soul progressions are often built from jazz and R&B, but with a twist. Try practicing these examples:
ii–V–I in a Neo Soul Style: For example, Dm9 – G13 – Cmaj9
IV–V–iii–vi: Fmaj7 – G13 – Em7 – Am9
Chromatic Movements: Use half-step slides or voice leading for that smooth sound
After learning the shapes, focus on voice leading: connecting chords using the smallest possible finger movements. This makes transitions smoother and more “pro.”
Practice Groove and Timing
Rhythm is everything in neo soul. You can play the right chords, but without the right feel, it won’t sound authentic. Spend time playing along with a metronome, drum loop, or backing track. Focus on:
Laying back slightly behind the beat (that “lazy” feel)
Syncopation and groove
Muting or ghost notes (on guitar) or staccato accents (on keys)
Try comping (playing chords rhythmically) with real songs or backing tracks. This is where everything comes together.
Use MIDI Packs, Tabs, and Learning Tools
Don’t waste time reinventing the wheel. Use quality resources to shortcut your progress:
MIDI Packs or Tab Collections: Load these into your DAW or use as practice guides
Backing Tracks: Many are available for free on YouTube or as downloadable files
Apps and Tools: Try Slowdowner, Transcribe!, or YouTube’s built-in slow-down feature to break down tricky sections
(Shameless plug: If you want instant access to pro-level neo soul progressions and voicings, check out our [Neo Soul MIDI Pack]—it’s the fastest way to practice with real, inspiring examples.)
Avoid Common Practice Mistakes
Be aware of the pitfalls:
Practicing only in one key: Transpose everything.
Ignoring rhythm: Chord practice without groove is just theory.
Getting stuck on one progression: Challenge yourself with new changes.
Not listening enough: Listen to lots of neo soul—try to emulate the greats and internalize the style.
Track Your Progress and Stay Inspired
Use a practice tracker (a simple notebook or a spreadsheet is fine). Record what you practiced, what felt challenging, and your next goals.
Set small milestones (learn a new voicing, master a new progression, play a song start to finish)
Record yourself occasionally to hear your improvement
Stay inspired by learning new songs and sharing your progress with others
9. Conclusion: Practice Smarter, Play Smoother
Practicing neo soul chords efficiently is about structure, variety, and groove. Focus on the core voicings, practice in all keys, and always keep the rhythm at the center of your sessions. With the right approach, you’ll sound authentic—and have way more fun along the way.
Want more?
Grab our free neo soul chord cheat sheet and ebook “Neo-Soul Progressions Without Theory” or try one of our MIDI packs for instant access to pro-level progressions and backing tracks. And check out our other guides for even more ways to master the neo soul sound!
Ready to level up? Check out our related articles: [Top Neo Soul Chords You Need to Know], [10 Distinctive RnB Chord Progressions Every Producer Should Know], and [Learn Neo-Soul Chord Progressions by Instinct, Not Theory].
