the Herbie Hancock school · ii–V–I in C major
Upper-Structure Triads in C 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dm11 | F – C – C – E – G | ♭3 · ♭7 · ♭7 · 9 · 11 |
| G7(♯9♭13) | F – B – E♭ – G – B♭ | ♭7 · 3 · ♭13 · root · ♯9 |
| Cmaj9 | E – B – G – B – D | 3 · 7 · 5 · 7 · 9 |
Why it works
From Dm11 to G7(♯9♭13), 4 voices move (C4→B3, C5→E♭5, E5→G5, G5→B♭5) against 1 held tone. Into Cmaj9, 4 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 25 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
In C major, 2 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 E3 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 G and headed to F. Say the chord symbols out loud as you play; naming and hearing are different skills, and you want both.
Where C major lives in the repertoire
C major is where every method book starts, but in the working repertoire it belongs to singalong standards like "All of Me", and tunes that lean minor-to-relative-major such as "Fly Me to the Moon" keep landing on its ii–V–I as a home cadence. Master the shape here, then leave quickly — the bandstand rarely stays in C.
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: ← G · C · F →