the Herbie Hancock school · ii–V–I in D major
Upper-Structure Triads in D 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Em11 | G – D – D – F♯ – A | ♭3 · ♭7 · ♭7 · 9 · 11 |
| A7(♯9♭13) | G – C♯ – F – A – C | ♭7 · 3 · ♭13 · root · ♯9 |
| Dmaj9 | F♯ – C♯ – A – C♯ – E | 3 · 7 · 5 · 7 · 9 |
Why it works
From Em11 to A7(♯9♭13), 4 voices move (D4→C♯4, D5→F5, F♯5→A5, A5→C6) against 1 held tone. Into Dmaj9, 4 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 25 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
In D 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 F♯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 A and headed to G. Say the chord symbols out loud as you play; naming and hearing are different skills, and you want both.
Where D major lives in the repertoire
D major is scarcer in the American songbook than its two open guitar strings suggest, but bossa nova adopted it wholeheartedly — Jobim's "Wave" is the canonical D major vehicle, and its final cadence is this progression. It also turns up mid-tune constantly as the ii–V–I of the relative approach to F♯ minor sections.
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: ← A · D · G →