The Tonal Centers Page 

This web page contains a list of songs that have similar chord progressions and tonal shifts (modulations) and then links them to the “Vanilla Book”. 

This is a resource for learning to hear jazz chord progressions. Most jazz standards move through different major and minor tonal centers as the song progresses. Listening to songs that contain the same or similar chord progressions and tonal center shifts, can help learning to recognize them. 

                                              Chord Progressions and Tonal Shifts

Example of a Chord Progression

|  Gm7  /   C7  /   |  F   /   /   /   |

Example of  Chord Progressions with  Tonal Shifts 

|  Gm7  /   C7  /   |  F   /   /   /   |  Bm7  /   E7  /   |  A   /   /   /   |  Gm7  /   C7  /   |  F   /   /   /   |

In the first example there is no tonal shift (modulation). The basic tonality stays as F major. 

In the second example the tonality shifts (modulates) from F major to A major and then back to F major.

For example; The song “I Love You” shifts (modulates) from the key of F major to A major at bar 12 thru 16, then back to F major at bar 17. This web page contains a list of tunes that have similar  tonal progressions going to A major. Clicking on #49 (3maj) brings up a list of songs that at some point contain a shift of the key center into 3maj. Clicking on the individual song from the list brings up the chord changes of that tune with the progression or tonal shift  highlighted. Many tunes appear on a number of lists.

The purpose of this comparison of similar tonal shifts and chord progressions is to help the jazz player hear and improvise on progressions in any key. These progressions are linked to the “Vanilla Book” (which will still be notated in the original standard key).

Understanding tonal center movement is important for improvising. If you understand that  the “Have You Met Miss Jones” bridge shifts (modulates) from F (1maj) through the tonal centers of Bb major (4maj), to Gb major (b2maj), to D major (6maj), to Gb major (b2maj), and finally back to F major (1maj), it becomes much easier to improvise (and if necessary, transpose). 

Note: I’ve used (b2), (b3), (b5), (b6), (b7), to be consistant when altering tones, but recognize that the enharmonic equivalents (#1) (#2) etc., can and should be used when appropriate. 

                                    CHORD AND  TONAL PROGRESSION LIST

1 major 

  1. 1maj     #1dim    2m7    #2dim    3m7                    ( I – #Idim – IIm7 – #IIdim -IIIm7 )
  2. 1maj     #1dim     2m7     57                                    ( I – #Idim – IIm7 – V7 )
  3. 1maj     1+     4     #4dim                                         ( I – I+ – IV – #IVdim )
  4. 1maj     17     4     #4dim                                         ( I – I7 – IV – #IVdim )
  5. 1maj     17     4     4min                                            ( I – I7 – IV – IVm )
  6. 1maj     2m7    3m7     2m7                                      ( I – IIm7 – IIIm7 – IIm7 )
  7. 1maj     2m7    3m7    b3dim                                   ( I – IIm7 – IIIm7 – bIIIdim )
  8. 1maj     37     2min                                                  ( I – III7 – IImin )
  9. 1maj     37     4maj     27    57                                  ( I – III7 – IV – II7 – V7 )
  10. 1maj     37     4maj                                                   ( I – III7 – IV  )
  11. 1maj     37     67     27     57                                     ( I – III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )
  12. 1maj     37     67     2min                                          ( I – III7 – VI7 – II7 – IIm )
  13. 1maj     37     67     4min                                          ( I – III7 – VI7 – II7 – IVm )
  14. 1maj     37     6min      27                                         ( I – III7 – VIm – II7  )
  15. 1maj     3min7b5    67                                             ( I – IIIm7b5 – VI7 )
  16. 1maj     47                                                                ( I – IV7 )
  17. 1maj     4min                                                            ( I – IVm )
  18. 1maj     67    27     57                                               ( I – VI7 – II7 – V7 )
  19. 1maj     67     2m7    57                                            ( I – VI7 – IIm7 – V7 )
  20. 1maj     67    4maj    4min                                        ( I – VI7 – IV – IVm )
  21. 1maj     67    7m7b5    37                                         ( I – VI7 – VIIm7b5 – III7 )
  22. 1maj     6m7    2m7     57                                         ( I – VIm7 – IIm7 – V7 )
  23. 1maj     77      1maj                                                  ( I – VII7 – I )
  24. 1maj     77    37    67    27    57                                ( I – VII7 – III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )
  25. 1maj     b77     67                                                     ( I – bVII7 – VI7  )
  26. 1maj     b77     67    27    57                                     ( I – bVII7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )
  27. 1maj    4maj                                                             ( I – IV )
  28. 1maj    1m7                                                              ( I – Im7 )
  29. 1maj    1min                                                             ( I – Im  )
  30. 1maj    27b5                                                             ( I – II7b5  )
  31. 1maj    6m7    3m7                                                   ( I – VIm7 – IIIm7 ) 

    1 minor
  32. 1min                                                                         ( Im )1 dom 7th
  1. 17      4maj                                                               ( I7 – IV )
  2. 17      4maj    37    6min     27                                  ( I7 – IV – III7 – VIm – II7  )
  3. 17      4maj    67    2min                                           ( I7 – IV – VI7 – IIm  )
  4. 17      47    b77    b37     57                                      ( I7 – IV7 – bVII7 – bIII7 – V7  )
  5. 17      4min                                                               ( I7 – IVm )
  6. 17      77    b77    67                                                 ( I7 – VII7 – bVII7 – VI7 )
  7. 17+                                                                           ( I7+ )

    2 major
     
  8. 2maj                                                      (  II  )

    2 minor    
  9. 2min                                                                        (  IIm  )
  10. 2min      6min                                                          (  IIm – VIm )
  11. 2m7       57   down in whole steps                       (  IIm7 – V7 – down in whole steps )
  12. 2m7       5m7                                                            (  IIm7 – Vm7 )
  13. 2m7b5    57                                                              (  IIm7b5 – V7 )

    2 dom7th
  14. 27                                                                             (  II7  )
  15. 27      57                                                                   (  II7 – V7  )
  16. 27      b27   1maj                                                      (  II7 – bII7 – I  )

    3 major
     
  17. 3maj                                                                        (  III  )

    3 minor 
     
  18. 3min                                                                         (  IIIm  )
  19. 3m7    67     27    2m7    57                                       ( IIIm7 – VI7 – II7 – IIm7 – V7 )
  20. 3m7    67     2m7      57                                             ( IIIm7 – VI7 – IIm7 – V7 )
  21. 3m7    b37   2m7    b27     1maj                               ( IIIm7 – bIII7 – IIm7 – bII7 – I )
  22. 3m7    b3m7   2m7    57                                            ( IIIm7 – bIIIm7 – IIm7 – V7  )
     
  23. 3m7b5    67                                                               ( IIIm7b5 – VI7 )
  24. 3m7b5    67    2m7b5    57                                        ( IIIm7b5 – VI7 – IIm7b5 – V7 )
  25. 3m7b5    67    2min    2m7    57                                ( IIIm7b5 – VI7 – IIm – IIm7 – V7 )
  26. 3m7b5    67    4maj    4min                                       ( IIIm7b5 – VI7 – IV – IVm )

    3 dom7th
     
  27. 37    4maj    4min                                                       ( III7 – IV – IVm )
  28. 37    67    27     57                                                      ( III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )

    4 major    
  29. 4maj                                                                           (  IV  )
  30. 4maj     #4dim   1maj                                                (  IV – #IVdim – I  )
  31. 4maj     4min                                                             (  IV – IVm  )
  32. 4maj     b6maj                                                            (  IV – bVI  )

    4 minor 
     
  33. 4min                                                                           (  IVm  )
  34. 4m6                                                                            (  IVm6  )

    4 dom7th
  35. 47                                                                               (  IV7  )
  36. 47    37   67    27                                                        ( IV7 – III7 – VI7 – II7 )

    5 major
  37. 5maj                                                                           ( IV  )
  38. 5maj     6maj                                                              ( IV – VI  )

    5 minor
  39. 5min                                                                          ( Vm  )
  40. 5m7                                                                           ( Vm7  )

    5 dom7th
      
  41. 57+                                                                           ( V7+ )
  42. 57sus                                                                       ( V7sus )

    6 major
  43. 6maj                                                                         ( VI  )
  44. 6maj       5maj                                                          ( VI – V  )

    6 minor
  45. 6min                                                                        ( VIm  )
  46.  6min       2min                                                        ( VIm – IIm  )
  47.  6min       27                                                            ( VIm – II7  )
  48.  6min       3maj                                                        ( VIm – III  )
  49.  6min       3min                                                        ( VIm – IIIm  )

    6 dom7th
     
  50. 67     2min                                                                ( VI7 – IIm  )
  51. 67     27    57   1maj                                                 ( VI7 – II7 – V7 – I  )
  52. 67     4maj    4min                                                    ( VI7 – IV – IVm  )                                                
  53. 67     4maj                                                                ( VI7 – IV  )

    7 major
       
  54. 7maj                                                                         ( VII  )
  55. 7maj    1maj                                                            ( VII – I  )

    7 minor
  56. 7min                                                                         ( VIIm  )
  57. 7m7b5   37   6m7   27                                              ( VIIm7b5 – III7 – VIm7 – II7I )

    7 dom7th
     
  58. 77                                                                              ( VII7  )
  59. 77    37   67   27    57                                                ( VII7 – III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )
  60.       Chromatically altered tonalities
  61. b2maj                                                                       ( bII  )

  62. b2min                                                                      ( bIIm  ) 
  63. b27                                                                           ( bII7  )
  64. b27     b67    57                                                        ( bII7 – bVI7 – V7  )
     
  65. b3maj                                                                        ( bIII  )
  66. b3maj    b6maj   b2maj                                            ( bIII – bVI – bII  )

  67. b3 min                                                                      ( bIIIm  )
     
  68. b37                                                                           ( bIII7  )
     
  69. b3dim                                                                       ( bIIIdim  )
     
  70. b5maj                                                                       ( bV  )
     
  71. b6maj                                                                       ( bVI  )
  72. b6maj    b5maj                                                        ( bVI – bV  )

  73. b67                                                                           ( bVI7  )
  74. b67      57                                                                 ( bVI7 – V7  )
     
  75. b7maj                                                                       (bVII )

  76. b7min                                                                       (bVIIm )
     
  77. b77      67                                                                  (bVII7 – VI7 )
  78. b77      67     27                                                         (bVII7 – VI7 – II7 )
  79. b77      67     27     57                                                (bVII7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )
  80. b77      67     2min                                                     (bVII7 – VI7 – IIm )
  81. b77      67     b67    57                                               (bVII7 – VI7 – bVI7 – V7 )
     
  82. Song starts on     4 maj                                          ( IV )
     
  83. Song starts on     4maj    4min                               ( IV – IVm )    
     
  84. Song starts on     27                                                ( II7 ) 
      
  85. Song starts on      b67   57                                      ( bVI7 – V7 )
     
  86. 6min    6min/maj7     6m7      6m6                            ( VIm – VIm/maj7 – VIm7 – VIm6 )
     
  87. Song starts on       6min7                                       ( VIm7 )                             
     
  88. 2m7  to   57  down in half steps                             ( IIm7 – V7 ) 
  89. “ A “ section  using only  2m7   57   1maj   ( no color chords)       ( IIm7 – V7 – I  ) 
  90.        Bridges 

     
  91. 1maj                                                                            (  I   )
     
  92. 1 min                                                                          (  Im  )

  93. 17    77    b77    67                                                      ( I7 – VII7 – bVII7 – VI7 )
     
  94. 2maj                                                                            (  II  )
     
  95. 2min                                                                            (  IIm  )
     
  96. 3maj                                                                             (  III  )
     
  97. 3min                                                                             (  IIIm  )

  98. 37   67   27   57                                                             ( III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )

     
  99. 4maj                                                                             (  IV  )
  100. 4maj    1maj                                                                 (  IV – I  )
  101. 4maj    2min                                                                 (  IV – IIm  )
  102. 4maj    37   67   27    57                                               (  IV – III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 )
  103. 4maj    3maj                                                                 (  IV – III  )
  104. 4maj    4min                                                                 (  IV – IVm  )
  105. 4maj    5maj    or     (4maj   27   57 )                           (  IV – V  )    or     ( IV – II7 – V7 )
  106. 4maj    b3maj                                                               (  IV – bIII  )
  107. 4maj    b6maj                                                               (  IV – bVI  )
  108. 4maj   #4dim    1maj                                                    (  IV – #IVdim – I  )
      
  109. 4min                                                                             (  IVm  )

  110. 47                                                                                  (  IV7  )
      
  111. 5maj                                                                               (  V  )                                                             
  112. 5maj    6maj                                                                   ( V – VI )
     
  113. 5min                                                                               ( Vm )
     
  114. 67   27    57                                                                    ( VI7 – II7 – V7 )
     
  115. 6maj                                                                               ( VI  )                                                                

  116. 6min                                                                               ( VIm )
  117. 6min     2min                                                                  ( VIm – IIm )

  118. 7maj                                                                               ( VII )
      
  119. 7min                                                                               (  VIIm )
     
  120. Chromatically altered tonalities  (Bridges)
  121. b2maj                                                                             ( bII )

  122. b27                                                                                 ( bII7 )                                   
      
  123. b3maj                                                                             ( bIII )

  124. b37                                                                                 ( bIII7 )
     
  125. b5maj                                                                             ( bV )
     
  126. b6maj                                                                             ( bVI )
  127. b6maj     b5maj                                                              ( bVI – bV )

  128. b67                                                                                 ( bVI7 )
     
  129. b7maj                                                                             ( bVII )
  130. b7maj     5maj                                                                ( bVII – bV ) 
      
  131. Cycle of 5ths
     
  132. dom 7ths  down chromatically                                  ( V7 ) 
     
  133. 2m7      57  down in whole steps                               ( IIm7 – V7 )
     
  134. 2m7b5   57  down in whole steps                              ( IIm7bV – V7 )