the McCoy Tyner school · ii–V–I in A♭ major
Quartal Voicings in A♭ Major
The notes
| Chord | Notes (low → high) | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| B♭m11 | B♭ – F – E♭ – A♭ – D♭ | root · 5 · 11 · ♭7 · ♭3 |
| E♭7sus | E♭ – B♭ – E♭ – A♭ – D♭ | root · 5 · root · 11 · ♭7 |
| A♭6/9 | A♭ – E♭ – C – F – B♭ | root · 5 · 3 · 6 · 9 |
Why it works
From B♭m11 to E♭7sus, 2 voices move (B♭2→E♭2, F3→B♭2) against 3 held tones. Into A♭6/9, 5 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 19 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
A♭ major puts 12 of the 15 notes on black keys, so the hand rides high on the keyboard — many players find these grips easier to grab here, the way Irving Berlin could only play in F♯. The lowest note is E♭2 in the low register.
Practice tip: play the progression rubato first and listen for the held tones, then put the metronome on 2 and 4 at a slow tempo. When the grab is automatic, move around the circle of fourths — you are coming from E♭ and headed to D♭. Say the chord symbols out loud as you play; naming and hearing are different skills, and you want both.
Where A♭ major lives in the repertoire
A♭ major is the home key of "All the Things You Are" — the tune's long journey ends by cadencing into A♭ — and a favorite resolution point in the bebop songbook. Charlie Parker heads love living a half step above G, and pianists inherit the key whether they like it or not.
About this voicing style
Stacked fourths over open fifths — the modern, open, modal sound. Read the full story and get it in all 12 keys →
Listen: McCoy Tyner — "Passion Dance"; Chick Corea — "Matrix" comping.
Around the circle
Practice keys in the order bassists walk them — up a fourth: ← E♭ · A♭ · D♭ →