Chord Distribution Analysis

Chord SymbolCountFrequency
C6720.0%
Dm7514.3%
Am7411.4%
Ab7411.4%
D725.7%
Db725.7%
A725.7%
G725.7%

Key Patterns Detected

PatternFunctionFrequency
Am7 -> D7Setup (Major Key)2
A7 -> Dm7Resolution (Minor)2
Dm7 -> G7Setup (Major Key)2
Bm7b5 -> E7b9Setup (Minor Key)1
E7b9 -> Am7Resolution (Minor)1
Bm7b5 -> E7Setup (Minor Key)1

Harmonic Highlights:

  • Utilization of the tritone substitute dominant (Db7) resolving to the tonic (C6) facilitates a sophisticated chromatic bass descent.
  • Frequent use of the “backdoor” dominant (Ab7 to C6) injects a blues-inflected, flattened-sixth color characteristic of the stride era.
  • The progression employs a classic VI7 - ii7 - V7 turnaround (A7 - Dm7 - G7) to reinforce the C major tonal center.
  • Movement through the subdominant F7 toward Bm7b5 suggests a brief shift toward the relative minor (A minor) through a ii-V framework.

Improvisation Focus: Guide-tone targeting to navigate the frequent chromatic substitutions and non-diatonic dominant chords.

Difficulty Rating: 3/5: While the C major foundation is accessible, the constant shift between diatonic chords and chromatic substitutes requires precise harmonic awareness.