Coltrane Changes
The Coltrane changes is the chord progression Imaj7-bIII7-bVImaj7-VII7-IIImaj7-V7-Imaj7. In the key of C major it is Cmaj7 Eb7 Abmaj7 B7 Emaj7 G7 Cmaj7, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1(maj7) b3(7) b6(maj7) 7(7) 3(maj7) 5(7) 1(maj7).
It is also known as Giant Steps cycle, Coltrane substitution, Countdown formula.
Chords from outside the key of C major: Eb7, Abmaj7, B7, Emaj7.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Three major chords a major third apart divide the octave equally, and each is reached by its own dominant. No key area wins, so the harmony seems to spin through three tonics before coming home. It is often used as a substitute over a plain ii-V-I.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Steps | John Coltrane | bars 5 to 7 | Gmaj7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 F#7 | Bmaj7 (plays all seven chords in one run) | G major |
| Have You Met Miss Jones? | Rodgers and Hart | bridge | Bbmaj7 | Abm7 Db7 | Gbmaj7 | Em7 A7 | Dmaj7 | F major |
Coltrane Changes: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- Chromatic descending ii-Vs: Am7 D7 Abm7 Db7 Cmaj7
- Rhythm changes A section: C Am / Dm G / C Am / Dm G / C C7 / F Fm / C G / C
- Descending ii-V-Is: Cmaj7 Cm7 F7 Bbmaj7 Bbm7 Eb7 Abmaj7
- ii-V-I: Dm G C
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the Coltrane changes in each key?
In C major: Cmaj7 Eb7 Abmaj7 B7 Emaj7 G7 Cmaj7. In G major: Gmaj7 Bb7 Ebmaj7 F#7 Bmaj7 D7 Gmaj7. In D major: Dmaj7 F7 Bbmaj7 C#7 F#maj7 A7 Dmaj7. In A major: Amaj7 C7 Fmaj7 G#7 C#maj7 E7 Amaj7. In E major: Emaj7 G7 Cmaj7 D#7 G#maj7 B7 Emaj7.
Which songs use the Coltrane changes?
Songs that use it include Giant Steps by John Coltrane, Have You Met Miss Jones? by Rodgers and Hart.
