Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 21 minutes ago
John Coltrane revolutionized Jazz Harmony with his Coltrane Changes by substituting the ii-V-I progression with a *cycle of fast changing key centres that are a major 3rd apart*. This creates a very *rich harmonic* landscape and *colourful* ways to improvise. This groundbreaking harmonic system is known by the name “*Coltrane Cycle*”, “*Coltrane Matrix*” and “*Coltrane changes*”. The technique cam e to a climax on the “*Giant Steps*” album in the title Song and in the song “*Countdown*”. This tutorial is all about the harmonic structure and harmonic music theory where I show you what it is, how to use it and how to start improvising using the Coltrane Matrix.
Level 5 (of 6)
Tablature, diagrams, examples and backing tracks will be available on my Patreon page: patreon.com/QJamTracks
*Chapters:*
0:00 Introduction
0:39 All about John Coltrane
1:57 The concept of Coltrane Changes
04:45 Tonicization! (adding the V-I)
6:15 Adding the ii-V
8:19 The Coltrane Changes
10:14 Improvising over the Coltrane Changes
12:18 Giant Steps Analysis
14:30 Final Thoughts
*Crystal Clear E-BOOKS with audio files:*
qjamtracks.shopify.com
*Tabs and tracks at PATREON:
* patreon.com/Qjamtracks
*Social Media/contact: *
https:// facebook.com/QJamTracks
https:// instagram.com/QJamTracks
https:// youtube.com/QJamTracks
*Strandberg Guitars*
strandbergguitars.com
*Fractal Audio (FM9)*
fractalaudio.com
Neural DSP
neuraldsp.com
(c)2025 Rob van Hal, Netherlands
John Coltrane revolutionized Jazz Harmony with his Coltrane Changes by substituting the ii-V-I progression with a *cycle of fast changing key centres that are a major 3rd apart*. This creates a very *rich harmonic* landscape and *colourful* ways to improvise. This groundbreaking harmonic system is known by the name “*Coltrane Cycle*”, “*Coltrane Matrix*” and “*Coltrane changes*”. The technique cam e to a climax on the “*Giant Steps*” album in the title Song and in the song “*Countdown*”. This tutorial is all about the harmonic structure and harmonic music theory where I show you what it is, how to use it and how to start improvising using the Coltrane Matrix.
Level 5 (of 6)
Tablature, diagrams, examples and backing tracks will be available on my Patreon page: patreon.com/QJamTracks
*Chapters:*
0:00 Introduction
0:39 All about John Coltrane
1:57 The concept of Coltrane Changes
04:45 Tonicization! (adding the V-I)
6:15 Adding the ii-V
8:19 The Coltrane Changes
10:14 Improvising over the Coltrane Changes
12:18 Giant Steps Analysis
14:30 Final Thoughts
*Crystal Clear E-BOOKS with audio files:*
qjamtracks.shopify.com
*Tabs and tracks at PATREON:
* patreon.com/Qjamtracks
*Social Media/contact: *
https:// facebook.com/QJamTracks
https:// instagram.com/QJamTracks
https:// youtube.com/QJamTracks
*Strandberg Guitars*
strandbergguitars.com
*Fractal Audio (FM9)*
fractalaudio.com
Neural DSP
neuraldsp.com
(c)2025 Rob van Hal, Netherlands










