iii–♭III–ii–♭II–I

A fully chromatic descending bass line from iii to I, alternating between diatonic and borrowed chords. This creates a sophisticated, tension-filled descent that is a hallmark of modern jazz harmony and Coltrane-era composition.

Pattern: iii – ♭III – ii – ♭II – I   Example in C Major: Em – E♭ – Dm – D♭ – C

Genre: jazz   Difficulty: advanced

Choose a Key

C Major Em – E♭ – Dm – D♭ – C G Major Bm – B♭ – Am – A♭ – G D Major F♯m – F – Em – E♭ – D A Major C♯m – C – Bm – B♭ – A E Major G♯m – G – F♯m – F – E B Major D♯m – D – C♯m – C – B F♯ Major A♯m – A – G♯m – G – F♯ F Major Am – A♭ – Gm – G♭ – F B♭ Major Dm – D♭ – Cm – B – B♭ E♭ Major Gm – G♭ – Fm – E – E♭ A♭ Major Cm – B – Bbm – A – A♭ D♭ Major Fm – E – Ebm – D – D♭

Song Examples