Chord Distribution Analysis

Chord SymbolCountFrequency
Ab7412.5%
G7#539.4%
C7#939.4%
Fm626.2%
D7#926.2%
Ebm726.2%
F726.2%
Gb726.2%

Key Patterns Detected

PatternFunctionFrequency
Ebm7 -> Ab7Setup (Major Key)2
Cm7 -> F7Setup (Major Key)1
F7 -> Bbm6Resolution (Minor)1
Fm7 -> Bb7Setup (Major Key)1
Bb7 -> Ebm7Resolution (Minor)1
Gm7b5 -> C7#5Setup (Minor Key)1
C7#5 -> Fm6Resolution (Minor)1
C7#9 -> Fm7Resolution (Minor)1

Harmonic Highlights

  • Employs a modified 12-bar blues structure characterized by rapid ii-V cell transpositions, such as the Ebm7-Ab7 shifting chromatically to D7-G7.
  • Features heavy use of altered dominant chords (7#9, 7#5) to create the signature high-tension, post-bop sound of Shorter’s Blue Note period.
  • Integrates chromatic side-slipping, specifically using Gb7 as a tritone substitute for C7 or a leading tone to the G7 dominant, bypassing standard functional expectations.

Improvisation Focus C Minor Blues Scale integrated with the Altered Scale (Super Locrian) over dominant turnarounds.

Difficulty Rating 4/5: The frequent shifts between non-diatonic ii-V sequences and high-speed altered dominant changes require advanced harmonic agility beyond standard blues patterns.