Cherokee using Coltrane Changes

**Hugo Gainly** · 06-08-2026, 06:59 AM

Hi.

I am trying to reharmonise the bridge of Cherokee (it won't be fast...). I think I have got the correct changes but the melody is too wide of the mark too often for my taste. Using piano it might work better but using standard chord voicings I find it too dissonant. Any thoughts please?

I have

| C#m7 D7 | Gmaj7 Bb7 | D#maj7 F#7 | Bmaj7 |

This sequence 'can be' repeated in A then in G.

In bar 1 - the melody contains a 9th, then a b9 against the chords being played.
In bar 2 - there's a #5, #9
In bar 3 - a b7 (against a maj7)
4's ok

| Bm7 C7 | Fmaj7 Ab7 | C#maj7 E7 | Amaj7 |

In bar 5 - a 9th, a #11
in bar 6 - a b9, a #9/m3
in bar 7 - a m3

etc etc etc.

Firstly, are those changes right? If so, should one play the alterations even though they contain illogical things like maj7 chords with m7 intervals etc?

I think those are Countdown type changes. A Giant Steps approach produces the same chords but shifted. I've tried ascending thirds instead of descending thirds and it still sounds s*.

I've always been aware roughly of what they are through studying Giant Steps but there are quite a few tunes/reharms that need study that might use different thirds techniques, or that can be amended to suit the melody. I feel there is only so far you can challenge the melody. Only so much tension....

Please advise. Yours, prepared to have arse handed to him....

(I have seen a guitarist playing a superfast solo over the changes, but I am referring to the tune and how it sits, not guitar waffle. There is also a pianist who does a reasonable job with the melody. I can't find a Brad Mehldau version sadly :-) )

| C#m7 D7 | Gmaj7 Bb7 | D#maj7 F#7 | Bmaj7 |
| Bm7 C7 | Fmaj7 Ab7 | C#maj7 E7 | Amaj7 |
| Am7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 F#7 | Bmaj7 D7 | Gmaj7 |
| Gm7 Ab7 | Dbmaj7 E7 | Cmin7 Db7 | Gbmaj7 Bb-maj | - the last line's approximate....

**Tom Karol** · 06-08-2026, 10:03 AM

Hugo, I know this doesn't really answer your question, but here's my reference point for Cherokee - Joe Pass & Herb Ellis, Two for the Road, Slower of 2 versions:

**dasein** · 06-08-2026, 10:34 AM

Firstly, are those changes right?

They are right. The way I remember is just to play a dom7 chord a half step up from the iim7, and then start the cycle.

I think those are Countdown type changes. A Giant Stepsapproach produces the same chords but shifted.

Technically yes, but "Countdown" is the blueprint for how you would reharmonize a standard ii-V with Coltrane changes. "Countdown" is "Tune Up" with Coltrane changes.

If so, should one play the alterations even though they contain illogical things like maj7 chords with m7 intervals etc?

So there's a reason that when Trane reharmed all these tunes, he also wrote new melodies for them. In fact, I remember reading he did record a contrafact of "Cherokee" with Coltrane changes in the bridge, but the recording was lost in a fire.

For the most part, when playing Coltrane changes, I would minimize the use chord alterations. Freddie Green/shell voicings are more than enough, with maybe some very vanilla alterations like natural 9s. Even just playing 3rds and 7ths are fine. I know you said you don't want to play this fast, but Coltrane changes are usually played pretty briskly, and getting adept at playing them quickly usually requires small chords. Yes, I know Joe Pass and Metheny played slow versions. Yes, I know Joe Diorio has a whole book with elaborate chord voicings. All great, but if this ever gets called at a jam session, you don't want to be caught offguard.

But more importantly, I think adding a bunch of alterations to Coltrane changes defeats the purpose. The color comes from the rapid modulations; adding too many extensions actually ruins the effect. If you look at Coltrane's solo, his lines are very straightforward, correlating exactly to the changes. On a more typical standard, it would probably be too bland. But when you're hitting 3 completely different key changes every 3 seconds, it works perfectly.

Or you could play it like Brad Mehldau plays "Countdown", in which case, good luck!

Realistically, I'd do this one of two ways:

- keep the Coltrane changes just for soloing, use the normal changes when you play the melody
- write a new melody. Fun challenge!

**Hugo Gainly** · 06-08-2026, 12:18 PM

but the recording was lost in a fire

Same here! Unluckily all the recordings of me playing Countdown and Giant Steps were ALL lost in a fire!

**AllanAllen** · 06-08-2026, 12:30 PM

Thank you for posting this. I’m working on Cherokee lately. Going to add this reharm to my comping options.

I think he also reharmed But Not For Me with Coltrane changes.

**Hugo Gainly** · 06-08-2026, 02:37 PM

I think adding a bunch of alterations to Coltrane changes defeats the purpose.

Yes, I agree - the triangle of tone centres is enough to be going on with.

I want to play a solo chord melody rather than a new tune so it looks like I can't rely on one line of Coltrane changes, unless another key means the alterations are more benign.

Thanks for input. I'll try the triads, guide tones thing.

(...cut to man reaching for 'Handbook of Chord Substitutions' by Andy Laverne....)