Minor Line Cliche Over a ii-V

Whether you know it or not, you've heard the minor line cliche before.  The progression is a key feature in songs such as:
  • In a Sentimental Mood
  • This Masquerade
  • My Funny Valentine 
This device can be an effective way to add harmonic motion to a chord, especially when it's held for an extended period of time.  Over a minor chord, the harmony could be thought of minor - minor/major7 - minor7 - minor6.  The minor line cliche can also imply a ii-V progression, starting from the root of the minor chord and landing on the third of the dominant or major 7th of the I.  The minor line cliche obvious or obfuscated, weaving other notes through and around it.
It's helpful to study famous minor line cliches and come up with your own.  

EXAMPLE 1: "Tenor Madness"

EXAMPLE 2: "Move"

You can also use this concept with a faster harmonic rhythm over a short ii-V.
EXAMPLE 3: Fast Harmonic Rhythm 1 (Like Someone in Love by Rene Thomas) 

He uses it two more times in his solo!

EXAMPLE 4: Fast Harmonic Rhythm 2
It's not even necessary to outline every single note in the minor cliche,  Check out the heads of "Tricotism" for two examples in the bridge, as well as the first two bars in "Scrapple from the Apple" for examples of this.
EXAMPLE 5: "Scrapple from the Apple"

EXAMPLES 6 AND 7: "Tricotism"


To prove that you understand a concept- not just theoretically, but well enough you can create your own music using the concept, I composed the following examples which use the minor line cliche over a ii-V progression.
EXAMPLE 8: Mike's Lick with Repeating Phrase
EXAMPLE 9: Mike's Lick 2



Comments

Post a Comment