Coltrane Changes - Coltrane Substitution

The Coltrane substitution, Coltrane changes, or "'Countdown' formula" is as follows. Given the ii-V-I turnaround lasting four measures:

ii7 | V7 | I | I || dm7 | G7 | C | C ||

with the dominant chord (V7) preceding the tonic (I).

One substitutes two chords for each of the first three:

ii7 | | V7 | I || dm7 Eb7 | Ab B7 | E G7 | C || m2 P4 m3 P4 m3 P4

Notice a dominant seventh chord preceding and thus tonicizing a major chord on C and also E and Ab, both a major third from C.

(V7 | I)(V7 | I)(V7 | I) Eb7 | Ab B7 | E G7 | C

This also may begin on C, as on "Giant Steps", giving:

C Eb7 | Ab B7 | E G7 | C || m3 P4 m3 P4 m3 P4

Read more about this topic:  Coltrane Changes

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