Chord Distribution Analysis

Chord SymbolCountFrequency
A7b948.5%
Dm748.5%
C748.5%
Fmaj736.4%
Em7b536.4%
Gm736.4%
G724.3%
Bbm724.3%

Key Patterns Detected

PatternFunctionFrequency
Em7b5 -> A7b9Setup (Minor Key)3
Gm7 -> C7Setup (Major Key)3
A7b9 -> Dm7Resolution (Minor)2
C7 -> Fmaj7Resolution (Major)2
Dm7 -> G7Setup (Major Key)1
Cm7 -> F7Setup (Major Key)1
F7 -> Bbm7Resolution (Minor)1
D7b9 -> Am7b5Resolution (Minor)1
Am7b5 -> D7b9Setup (Minor Key)1
D7b9 -> Gm7Resolution (Minor)1
Bm7 -> E7Setup (Major Key)1
A7b9 -> DmResolution (Minor)1
A7b9 -> Dm6Resolution (Minor)1

Harmonic Highlights

  • Frequent toggling between F Major and relative D Minor via minor ii-V-I cycles (Em7b5-A7b9-Dm7) establishes a sophisticated dual-tonality.
  • The incorporation of IVm7 (Bbm7) creates subdominant minor “bluesy” coloration, a hallmark of Arlen’s gospel-influenced harmonic language.
  • Secondary dominant chains (G7-C7-Fmaj7) provide strong circle-of-fifths momentum to resolve back to the tonic center.
  • Chromatic ii-V sequences in the bridge require navigating rapid shifts in tonal centers that deviate from the primary D minor/F major axis.

Improvisation Focus F Major/D Minor Blues Scale integration with chord-tone targeting to balance the soulful melody with the sophisticated vertical changes.

Difficulty Rating 3/5; the piece requires an intermediate ability to navigate frequent modulations between relative major and minor keys alongside chromatic subdominant substitutions.


📚 Standard Available in:

The Real Book - Volume II
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