Shortbook™ of the Month: RETROSTEPS - The Cycle of ASCENDING Major 3rds
“RETROSTEPS – The Cycle of ASCENDING Major 3rds” is an expression of some of the relationships and subsequent ideas I've stumbled upon while coming to grips - and having fun - with the legendary John Coltrane's so called “Giant Steps Changes” (aka “Coltrane Changegs”), and known technically as the “Cycle of DESCENDING Major 3rds”.
Coltrane's original intention for this cycle was as a harmonic substitution device that would take him “out of the ordinary path”, meaning the common ii-V7 cadences that most standards and jazz tunes were (and are) based on.
Retrosteps is a further variation of the Major 3rd cycle – the “Cycle of ASCENDING Major 3rds” - the directional description in caps being of primary importance.
Coltrane's original intention for this cycle was as a harmonic substitution device that would take him “out of the ordinary path”, meaning the common ii-V7 cadences that most standards and jazz tunes were (and are) based on.
Retrosteps is a further variation of the Major 3rd cycle – the “Cycle of ASCENDING Major 3rds” - the directional description in caps being of primary importance.
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