Introduction
A line cliché is a stepwise line (either descending or ascending) that moves against a single stationary chord. It allows the composer to sustain a particular chord while adding some movement and interest to an otherwise boring and static progression.
Line Clichés
The characteristics of line clichés are:
- They usually occur at the top or bottom (often using slash chords) of a chord voicing, but may occur in the middle also;
- The line movement is always in the root, 5th or 7th (never the 3rd);
- They are generally found on minor chords, but can occasionally be found on Major chords;
- They are generally found on the Tonic chord, but can occasionally be found on other chords;
- They can ascend, descend or change direction;
- They usually move in semitones, but can move in tones.
Below are some common line clichés which you may come across:
| A minor triad | |||
| Am/A | AmMaj7/G# | Am7/G | Am6/F# |
| Am6 | Am7 | AmMaj7 | Am |
| Am | Am#5 | Am6 | Am7 |
| Am | Am#5 | Am6 | Am#5 |
| Am7 | Am6 | Am#5 | Am |
| AmMaj7 | Am7 | Am6 | Am7 |
| Am/A | Am7/G | Am♭6/F | Am/E |
| C Major triad | |||
| C | C#5 | C6 | C7 |
| CMaj7 | C7 | C6 | CMaj#5 |
| II-V-I | |||
| Dm | DmMaj7 | Dm7 | G7 |
Reharmonization
Line clichés may be used to reharmonize a song where:
- There is a single chord played for a long time (Summertime)
- There is a II-V or repeating II-V’s (Satin Doll)
- The melody is primarily in a single diatonic key (Black Orpheus)
When improvising over a line cliché use the regular diatonic scale but change the relevant degree to accommodate the moving line (so over an AmMaj7/G# chord, play any A minor scale that has a G# in it – like A harmonic or A melodic minor). Or just use the Blues Scale! (if it’s a minor chord line cliché).
| Chord | Am/A | AmMaj7/G# | Am7/G | Am6/F# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale Choices | A Aeolian A Harmonic A Melodic A Dorian | A Harmonic A Melodic | A Aeolian A Dorian | A Dorian A Melodic |
| Notes in Scale | Any A minor scale | Any A minor scale with a G# | Any A minor scale with a G | Any A minor scale with an F# |
| Or simply | A Blues Scale! | |||
Have a Listen to
- Blue Skies
- My Funny Valentine
- In Walked Bud
- What are you doing the rest of your life?
- Yesterdays
- In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning