Chord Distribution Analysis

Chord SymbolCountFrequency
F71237.5%
Eb71237.5%
Bb7412.5%
Ab739.4%
C713.1%

No obvious ii-V patterns detected.


Harmonic Highlights

  • The progression utilizes parallel dominant 7th chords (F7 to Eb7 and Bb7 to Ab7) that move in whole-step descents, creating a non-functional, “constant structure” harmonic texture.
  • In the key of Ab, these movements function as VI7–V7 and II7–I7 relationships, substituting traditional ii-V-I cadences for a soul-jazz influenced gospel vamp.
  • The harmony relies on the Mixolydian color of each chord rather than diatonic resolution, emphasizing the flat-seventh interval to maintain a persistent bluesy tension.
  1. Improvisation Focus Mixolydian modal shifting: Targeted switching between the Mixolydian scales of each chord (F, Eb, Bb, and Ab) to highlight the shifting non-diatonic tones.

  2. Difficulty Rating 2/5: The repetitive, two-chord vamp structure is accessible for beginners, though navigating the constant dominant 7th shifts requires basic modal fluency.


📚 Standard Available in:

The Real Book - Volume IV
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