the Herbie Hancock school · ii–V–I in A major
Upper-Structure Triads 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 | D – A – A – C♯ – E | ♭3 · ♭7 · ♭7 · 9 · 11 |
| E7(♯9♭13) | D – G♯ – C – E – G | ♭7 · 3 · ♭13 · root · ♯9 |
| Amaj9 | C♯ – G♯ – E – G♯ – B | 3 · 7 · 5 · 7 · 9 |
Why it works
From Bm11 to E7(♯9♭13), 4 voices move (A3→G♯3, A4→C5, C♯5→E5, E5→G5) against 1 held tone. Into Amaj9, 4 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 25 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
In A major, 5 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 C♯3 in the octave below middle C; 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
A plain major triad stacked over the guide tones — simple triad, sophisticated colour. Read the full story and get it in all 12 keys →
Listen: Herbie Hancock behind Miles and on "Maiden Voyage"; McCoy Tyner's right-hand triads; Bill Dobbins' pedagogy.
Around the circle
Practice keys in the order bassists walk them — up a fourth: ← E · A · D →