Blue (And Broken Hearted) (D minor) - Jazz Analysis & Chords

Harmonic Highlights

• The progression utilizes a chromatic ascent from Bbmaj7 to Dbº7, acting as a passing diminished chord or a substituted viiº7 leading back to the D minor tonic.
• Frequent use of augmented dominants (D7#5, G7#5) creates internal voice-leading tension, typically resolving downward to the 9th or 5th of the subsequent minor chords.
• The movement from G7 to Cm7 indicates a secondary dominant cycle (V/VII in Bb or V/iv in G minor), highlighting a temporary shift away from the D minor center.
• The harmony relies on “Lady Bird” style substitutions where the bVI major (Bbmaj7) functions as a predominant preparation for chromatic diminished resolutions.

Improvisation Focus D Harmonic Minor and Diminished Arpeggios (starting on C# or Db) to outline the leading-tone tension.

Difficulty Rating 3/5: The piece requires navigating frequent secondary dominants and diminished substitutions that demand precise voice leading within a minor key context.