Minor Line Cliché (i i/7 i7/b7 i6/6)
The Minor line cliche is the chord progression i-i/7-i7/b7-i6/6. In the key of C minor it is Cm Cm/B Cm7/Bb Cm6/A, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m 1m/7 1m(7)/b7 1m(6)/6.
It is also known as CESH (contrapuntal elaboration of static harmony).
Chords from outside the key of C minor: Cm6/A.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
One minor chord stays put while a single voice falls by half steps: root, major seventh, minor seventh, sixth. The moving line can be in the bass or inside the chord, and jazzguitar.be describes the inner version as CESH. It gives static harmony a sense of gentle, sinking motion.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Funny Valentine | Frank Sinatra | opening A section | Am AmMaj7 Am7 Am6 | A minor |
| Stairway to Heaven | Led Zeppelin | intro and verse | Am AmMaj9 Am7 D/F# | A minor |
Minor Line Cliché: 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 lament bass: Cm G/B Cm/Bb F/A Ab G
- Picardy third ending: Cm Fm G C
- Minor circle of fifths: Cm Fm Bb Eb Ab Dm7b5 G Cm
- Minor i-iv-bVII: Cm Fm Bb
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 Minor line cliche in each key?
In C minor: Cm Cm/B Cm7/Bb Cm6/A. In G minor: Gm Gm/F# Gm7/F Gm6/E. In D minor: Dm Dm/C# Dm7/C Dm6/B. In A minor: Am Am/G# Am7/G Am6/F#. In E minor: Em Em/D# Em7/D Em6/C#.
Which songs use the Minor line cliche?
Songs that use it include My Funny Valentine by Frank Sinatra, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.
