the Herbie Hancock school · ii–V–I in E major
Upper-Structure Triads in E 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 |
|---|---|---|
| F♯m11 | A – E – E – G♯ – B | ♭3 · ♭7 · ♭7 · 9 · 11 |
| B7(♯9♭13) | A – D♯ – G – B – D | ♭7 · 3 · ♭13 · root · ♯9 |
| Emaj9 | G♯ – D♯ – B – D♯ – F♯ | 3 · 7 · 5 · 7 · 9 |
Why it works
From F♯m11 to B7(♯9♭13), 4 voices move (E4→D♯4, E5→G5, G♯5→B5, B5→D6) against 1 held tone. Into Emaj9, 4 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 25 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
In E major, 6 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 G♯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 B and headed to A. Say the chord symbols out loud as you play; naming and hearing are different skills, and you want both.
Where E major lives in the repertoire
E major is nearly absent from the classic songbook — which is precisely why it shows up in auditions and why modern composers (and guitarist-led bands) reach for it. Treat this page as insurance: the cadence feels different when the 3rd of the tonic is a black key under your thumb, and you want to have met that feeling before the gig does.
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: ← B · E · A →