Tune Up — Chord Changes & Harmonic Analysis
- Composer:
- Miles Davis
- Year:
- 1953
- Key:
- D major
- Form:
- AAB (24 bars)
- Style:
- Bebop
- Tempo:
- 140–220 BPM
Miles Davis's composition built entirely on ii-V progressions descending by whole steps. An essential study piece for learning ii-V patterns in all keys.
About This Standard
Composed by Miles Davis (though sometimes attributed to Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson — a dispute that remains unresolved) and recorded in 1953, Tune Up is a straightforward bebop vehicle consisting of three consecutive ii-V-I progressions, each a whole step lower than the previous: E major, D major, and C major. Its simple, sequential structure made it a favorite for practicing ii-V-I patterns.
Notable recordings:
- Miles Davis — (1953 recording)
- John Coltrane — (various recordings)
- Widely played — (bebop ii-V-I study piece)
Chord Changes
Notation
Harmonic Analysis
Tune Up is a 16-bar composition consisting of three 4-bar ii-V-I progressions descending by whole steps: F#m7→B7→Emaj7 (E major), Em7→A7→Dmaj7 (D major), and Dm7→G7→Cmaj7 (C major), followed by a 4-bar turnaround back to E. The sequential, step-down structure makes the harmonic logic immediately clear — it is essentially a ii-V-I exercise with a head melody. At medium-up tempos, it builds fluency in navigating three consecutive major key ii-V-I patterns.