Coltrane Changes

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The chord progression shown above was used by John Coltrane to harmonize a series of original compositions and arrangements of standards. It has therefore come to be known as the "Coltrane Changes", or sometimes "Giant Steps Changes", since that is the most well-known of the compositions that feature this progression. Coltrane did not originate the progression, but he popularized it.

The primary characteristic of the Coltrane changes is that the tonal centers modulate by major thirds:

[EXAMPLE]

It therefore creates a cycle, repeating every three modulations:

[EXAMPLE]

You can use this cycle to add interest to a progression that is more static. For example, you can use it when you have several measures of a I chord:

[EXAMPLE]

You can also use it in two different ways in place of a ii-V-I progression. Here is a sample ii-V-I:

[EXAMPLE]

You can use the Coltrane cycle starting on the I chord:

[EXAMPLE]

Or you can start on the ii chord, which is not normally part of the cycle:

[EXAMPLE]

These types of substitutions are most commonly made and agreed upon in advance, as they are rather complex to improvise. Also, playing these changes over accompaniment that is playing the original changes creates more tension than the other substitutions discussed in this chapter:

[EXAMPLE]

This is not necessarily bad, however.

Copyright 2000 Outside Shore Music
Authored by Marc Sabatella

Coltrane Changes