the Herbie Hancock school · ii–V–I in G major
Upper-Structure Triads in G 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Am11 | C – G – G – B – D | ♭3 · ♭7 · ♭7 · 9 · 11 |
| D7(♯9♭13) | C – F♯ – B♭ – D – F | ♭7 · 3 · ♭13 · root · ♯9 |
| Gmaj9 | B – F♯ – D – F♯ – A | 3 · 7 · 5 · 7 · 9 |
Why it works
From Am11 to D7(♯9♭13), 4 voices move (G3→F♯3, G4→B♭4, B4→D5, D5→F5) against 1 held tone. Into Gmaj9, 4 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 25 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
In G major, 4 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 B2 in the low register; 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 D and headed to C. Say the chord symbols out loud as you play; naming and hearing are different skills, and you want both.
Where G major lives in the repertoire
G major earns its keep through "Autumn Leaves" — the most-taught standard in jazz education spends half of every chorus cycling Am7–D7–G, this exact cadence, before dipping into its relative minor. Get this page to reflex level and you have automated the brightest half of the most famous tune there is.
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: ← D · G · C →