Bill Evans, Kind of Blue · ii–V–I in A major
The "So What" Voicing in A Major
The audio adds each chord's root in the bass — that's the context these rootless shapes are designed to sit in. The MIDI file is exactly the notation.
The notes
| Chord | Notes (low → high) | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Bm11 | B – E – A – D – F♯ | root · 11 · ♭7 · ♭3 · 5 |
| E7sus(♯9) | E – A – D – G – B | root · 11 · ♭7 · ♯9 · 5 |
| Amaj13 | C♯ – F♯ – B – E – G♯ | 3 · 13 · 9 · 5 · 7 |
Why it works
From Bm11 to E7sus(♯9), 5 voices move (B2→E3, E3→A3, A3→D4, D4→G4, F♯4→B4) against 0 held tones. Into Amaj13, 5 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 15 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
In A major, 4 of the 15 notes fall on black keys — a mixed terrain that is exactly why this progression must be practiced in every key, not just C. The lowest note is B2 in the low register; below roughly C3, close intervals start to blur, and this voicing stays clear of that line.
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 belongs more to guitars than to the songbook, which makes it a stealth weakness for pianists: it appears mid-tune (the bridge of many rhythm-changes contrafacts touches it) and at jam sessions led by singers who count off "same tune, up a half step". The grip is friendly — two sharps under the hand — the surprise is only ever the unfamiliarity.
About this voicing style
Three fourths plus a major third on top. One grip, planed across all three chords. Read the full story and get it in all 12 keys →
Listen: Miles Davis — "So What" (Evans behind the theme); Herbie Hancock — "Maiden Voyage".
Around the circle
Practice keys in the order bassists walk them — up a fourth: ← E · A · D →