Jazz Reharmonization Techniques

 

Harmonic Rhythm:

How often will the chords change? Every…

  • 8 measures, 4 measures, two measures, 1 measure, 2 beats?
  • consider balance and symmetry

More Chords or Less Chords?

Do you want to add complexity or create a more open, modal environment?
“Giant Steps” vs. “Milestones”

Common Modal Settings in Modern Jazz

Used in vamps, intros, release sections, etc.

  • sus chords (F7sus = Cmi7/F)
  • Lydian: Gmaj7(#11)
  • Phrygian: Dmi7(b5)/G = G Phrygian = Eb major parent scale
  • really, any mode/scale (symmetrical or asymmetrical)

Voicing Shapes

AKA: Rootless LH voicings
F13 = Cmi6 = Ami7(b5) = Ebmaj7(#11) = B7alt (#9, b13)

Superimposing Progressions (on top of progressions)

  1. Two-beat Dominant Cycles: C7, F7, Bb7, Eb7, Ab7, Db7, Gb7, B7, E7, A7, D7, G7
    – work backwards from the destination (such as the IV chord in measure 5)
    – Examples: Jordu, Funk in Deep Freeze, Turnpike
  2. John Coltrane’s Giant Steps Matrix
    1. Coltrane Changes
    2. 26-2 (based on “Confirmation”)
    3. But Not For Me
    4. Satellite (based on “How High the Moon”)

Symmetrical Scale Harmony

 

East of the Sun:

 

 

Comments are closed.