A Generative Grammar for Jazz Chord Sequences
Mark J. Steedman · Music Perception An Interdisciplinary Journal · 1984
The recursive character of musical chord sequences makes generative grammar a suitable formalism for describing the rules that constrain such sequences. A small number of rules are presented which generate the members of a large class of complex chord sequences that are generally recognised to be closely related, namely the set of jazz 12-bar blues. The rules are illustrated using a testing corpus of jazz chord sequences, and certain extensions are considered.