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The Coltrane Matrix

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Coltrane Matrix: a reharmonization of chord substitutions of a basic ii-V-I with

movement in major thirds creating an augmented triad. This is also know as "Coltrane
Substitution," "Coltrane Changes," etc.

Skype Lessons
Coltrane first introduced this on Blue Train on tunes such as Moment's Notice and
Lazy Bird, and later on took things further on Giant Steps.
The B section from Have You Met Miss Jones served as inspiration for Coltrane
because of the major 3rd modulation from D to Gb to Bb.

Coltrane Substitution:
1) Here is a normal ii-V-I in C major:
| ii | V |
I ||
| dmin7 | G7 | Cmaj7 ||
2) Now with the Major 3rds Cycle:
| ii

V** |

I*

V** | I*

V** |

I* |

| dmin7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 B7 | Emaj7 G7 | Cmaj7 |

This progression moves from Ab, down a major 3rd to E, then down another
major 3rd to C. Make sense?
Every modulation to a new key is tonicized by a preceding V chord, indicated my
the ** in the diagram.

Where does this come from?

Here is the cycle of 4ths, and as you can see, the
triangle connects the tones that are a major 3rd
appart.
In this diagram, you can rotate the triangle and
figure out all the possibilities for the major 3rds
cycle.

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