The Minor Line Cliché

The minor line cliché is a chromaticism used in the minor key. A note in the chord will “walk” down from the root, to the major seventh, to the minor seventh. It can continue until it reaches the fifth. The Beatles used this device several times. It’s fairly common; it’s not called a “cliché” without cause.

Once you’ve played the chords in this exercise, you will likely recall having heard this device before. It is often used in popular music.

Hear It

A-

A^minMaj7

A^min7

A^min6

Key Exercises

• Learn, memorize, and apply the minor line cliché.
• Create a new minor key chord progression using this idea. Can you extend the line cliché? Are there any clues in the harmony that allow you to take the chords in a different direction?
• Improvise using the minor line cliché as the basis of your melody.