THE COLTRANE CHANGES

In jazz harmony, the Coltrane changes (Coltrane Matrix or cycle, also known as chromatic third
relations and multi-tonic changes) are a harmonic progression variation using substitute chords
over common jazz chord progressions. These substitution patterns were first demonstrated by jazz
musician John Coltrane on the albums Bags & Trane (on the track "Three Little Words") and
Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago (on "Limehouse Blues"). Coltrane continued his
explorations on the 1960 album Giant Steps, and expanded upon the substitution cycle in his
compositions "Giant Steps" and "Countdown", the latter of which is a reharmonized version of
Eddie Vinson's "Tune Up". The Coltrane changes are a standard advanced harmonic substitution
used in jazz improvisation.

The changes serve as a pattern of chord substitutions for the ii–V–I progression (supertonic–
dominant–tonic) and are noted for the tonally unusual root movement by major thirds (either up
or down by a major third interval as opposed to more typical minor or major second intervals, see
steps and skips, thus "Giant Steps"[citation needed]), creating an augmented triad. Root
movement by thirds is unusual in jazz, as the norm is cycle of fifths root movement, such as ii-V-I,
which in the key of C is D minor, G7 and C major.