So What

Miles Davis · Key of Dm · AABA

Beginner · 2 unique chords

Composed by Miles Davis for Kind of Blue (1959, Columbia Records), "So What" launched the modal jazz era. Bill Evans's quartal voicing on the head — four stacked fourths with a third on top — became one of the most famous single chords in jazz history.

Voicing style:

A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

A2

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

B

Ebm11Rootless A

Ebm11Rootless A

Ebm11Rootless A

Ebm11Rootless A

Ebm11Rootless A

Ebm11Rootless A

Ebm11Rootless A

Ebm11Rootless A

A3

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Dm11Rootless A

Get 50 Essential Jazz Voicings (Free PDF)

Enter your email and we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Practice this standard

Stage 1Two-Note Shells — Learning Path

Listen to

Miles Davis — Kind of Blue (1959)

Origin of the quartal "So What" chord — Bill Evans's voicing that launched modal jazz.

Chords in this standard

Sources & Further Reading

Gioia, The Jazz Standards — Oxford University Press Levine, The Jazz Piano Book — Sher Music Mantooth, Voicings for Jazz Keyboard — Hal Leonard Jazz at Lincoln Center — Education Learn Jazz Standards