the Teddy Wilson school · ii–V–I in A♭ major
Stride Tenths in A♭ Major
The notes
| Chord | Notes (low → high) | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| B♭m9 | B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭ – C | root · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9 |
| E♭9 | E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭ – F | root · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9 |
| A♭maj9 | A♭ – C – E♭ – G – B♭ | root · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 |
Why it works
From B♭m9 to E♭9, 5 voices move (B♭1→E♭2, D♭3→G3, F3→B♭3, A♭3→D♭4, C4→F4) against 0 held tones. Into A♭maj9, 5 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 34 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
A♭ major puts 9 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 A♭1 in octave 1.
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
The swing-era left hand: root and third spread a tenth apart, under a right-hand chord. Read the full story and get it in all 12 keys →
Listen: Teddy Wilson with Billie Holiday; Art Tatum's left hand; Fats Waller's stride.
Around the circle
Practice keys in the order bassists walk them — up a fourth: ← E♭ · A♭ · D♭ →