Rootless Voicings

Four-note rootless ii–V–I across all twelve keys

Take the shells (3rd + 7th) and add the 5th and 9th. The root drops out — the bass player has it — and the left hand becomes a four-note chord that defines the harmony all by itself. These are the voicings most often associated with Bill Evans.

The voice leading is the magic: between any two chords, exactly two voices hold and two move down a step. At each change, the 3rd and 5th hold (becoming the next chord's 7th and 9th) while the 7th and 9th step down (becoming the next chord's 3rd and 5th). Track the held voices — that's why these voicings feel inevitable.

A-form

3rd on bottom (3-5-7-9).

B-form

7th on bottom (7-9-3-5).

C major

F major

B♭ major

E♭ major

A♭ major

D♭ major

G♭ major

B major

E major

A major

D major

G major

Two voices hold, two voices move. Every Bill Evans voicing you've ever heard is a variation on this lesson.

80 bpm

Sound