Chord Distribution Analysis
| Chord Symbol | Count | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Db7 | 13 | 23.2% |
| D7 | 13 | 23.2% |
| Eb7 | 12 | 21.4% |
| E7 | 12 | 21.4% |
| F#m6 | 4 | 7.1% |
| B7 | 2 | 3.6% |
Key Patterns Detected
| Pattern | Function | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| F#m6 -> B7 | Setup (Major Key) | 1 |
Harmonic Highlights:
- Employs “constant structure” harmony, shifting dominant 7th chords chromatically upward (Db7 to D7) to create cyclical, unresolved tension.
- The progression functions via chromatic side-slipping, where the D7 acts as a neighbor-tone chord to the Db7, bypassing traditional functional diatonicism.
- The bridge transposes the primary harmonic cell up a major second (Eb7 to E7), maintaining structural symmetry while shifting the tonal center.
- Resolution is often elusive, as the chords function as dominant structures without clear tonic arrival, emphasizing the “epistrophic” or repetitive nature of the form.
Improvisation Focus: The Whole-tone scale, which allows the soloist to navigate the dominant 7th structures while emphasizing Monk’s signature angular dissonances.
Difficulty Rating: 4 (Advanced). The non-functional chromaticism and rapid parallel shifts require high-level harmonic navigation and the ability to maintain melodic logic without traditional cadential anchors.