Chord Distribution Analysis

Chord SymbolCountFrequency
Bbmaj7413.3%
Bb7310.0%
C7310.0%
Eb7#1126.7%
Dm726.7%
G7b926.7%
Cm7b526.7%
F7b926.7%

Key Patterns Detected

PatternFunctionFrequency
Bbmaj7 -> Eb7#11Setup (Major Key)2
Eb7#11 -> Bbmaj7Resolution (Major)2
Dm7 -> G7b9Setup (Major Key)2
G7b9 -> Cm7b5Resolution (Minor)2
Cm7b5 -> F7b9Setup (Minor Key)2
Fm7 -> Bb7Setup (Major Key)2
Bb7 -> Ebmaj7Resolution (Major)2
Gm7 -> C7Setup (Major Key)2
Bb7 -> Fm7Resolution (Minor)1
Ebmaj7 -> Bb7Setup (Major Key)1
C7 -> Gm7Resolution (Minor)1
F7 -> Bbmaj7Resolution (Major)1

🎼 Sheet Music

Find Lead Sheet on Sheet Music Direct (PDF)

Harmonic Highlights

  • The progression utilizes a Lydian Dominant IV7 (Eb7#11), providing a sophisticated melodic minor color that resolves back to the tonic Bbmaj7 via common-tone voice leading.
  • The structure features dense iii-VI-ii-V chains (Dm7–G7b9–Cm7–F7), where the altered VI7 (G7b9) adds harmonic tension typical of jazz ballad vocabulary.
  • The bridge shifts to the subdominant (Ebmaj7) using a ii-V of IV (Fm7–Bb7), followed by a prolonged II-V of V (Gm7–C7) to set up the return to the home key.

Improvisation Focus Guide tone navigation of altered dominant extensions (b9, #11, b13) to highlight the shifting harmonic centers.

Difficulty Rating 3 (Intermediate): While the ballad tempo is manageable, the frequent secondary dominants and minor ii-V-I interpolations require a firm grasp of voice leading and scale substitutions.

📚 Standard Available in:

The Real Book - Volume VI
🛒 Buy on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the Hal Leonard Jazz Song Finder to make sure that the standard is indeed in the book before buying it.