System / 001
Mental drills for jazz
2026 / 09
3 games
Fig. 00 — 9 × 9
Three jazz drills
you do without an instrument
2 × 7 = 14 comes out without thinking. Dm7 = D F A C should too. Degrees, chords, scales. Play on the train or over lunch, no instrument needed, and track how many seconds each correct answer takes you.
Diagnosis / 01
Fig. 01
Your hands aren't slow.
The notes just aren't coming to mind.
If a chord's notes don't come to you the moment you see it, Jazz 9×9 comes before more time on your instrument.
↓ One stop
When / 02
One round fits in a single subway stop.
At the proficient level, 20 questions take about 2 minutes. Get the part you can do without an instrument done on the way, and spend your time on the instrument just playing.
G7 = G B D F — until it comes out without thinking.
Index / Games
Unit — Reaction (s) · time per correct answer
- 01
Degree tables
Two notes appear. Pick which degree the second note is from the first, out of 12.
Play →C → Eb= b3Proficient6.0sFluent3.0sMaster2.0s20 questions per round
- 02
Chord tables
Read the chord name and pick its notes. Triad and 7th modes.
Play →Bb7= Bb D F AbProficient10.0sFluent5.0sMaster3.0s10 questions per round
- 03
Scale tables
Read the root and scale name and pick the notes fast.
Play →F Dorian= F G Ab Bb C D EbProficient12.0sFluent6.0sMaster3.3s12 keys × 9 scales
Parameters
Chapter 03
N.01Every chord and scale answer is somewhere in the 12 note names. No instrument, just the keys on screen.
N.02Major, three minors, pentatonic, blues, Dorian, Mixolydian, Lydian.
N.03Only rounds above this accuracy count toward your level. Guessing won't move you up.
Scoring
Fast and accurate moves you up.
When a round ends, your time is divided by your correct answers to get your reaction time, in seconds. Lower is faster. Your level comes from the average of your recent rounds, and each level you reach is saved with its date.
| Game | Proficient | Fluent | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree tables | 6.0s | 3.0s | 2.0s |
| Chord tables | 10.0s | 5.0s | 3.0s |
| Scale tables | 12.0s | 6.0s | 3.3s |
Rounds under 90% accuracy don't count toward your level.
Frequently asked questions
Archive — 6 entries
Q.01Do I need an instrument?
No. In all three games you pick note names or degrees on screen, so it's all done in your head.
Q.02Why these three?
Degrees between notes, chord tones and scale notes are the sums you repeat every bar when you improvise. The goal is to make them automatic, like times tables.
Q.03How is reaction time worked out?
It's the time each correct answer takes you: your round time divided by your correct answers, in seconds, so lower is faster. The average of your recent rounds sets your level: proficient, fluent or master.
Q.04Where are my records saved?
Your level and practice history are saved in this browser. If you join with a nickname and password, your rounds also go on the leaderboard.
Q.05How do I get on the leaderboard?
Finish a round, then set a nickname and a password on the result screen. No email needed. Your single fastest round with 90% accuracy or better is what ranks. Chord tables only counts 7th mode, and Scale tables only counts rounds with the full question pool.
Q.06Where did the lessons and the Tree go?
They're taken down for now. The site is focused on the three tables.
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