Progression: Bbmaj9 — Am7 — Abmaj7
Unlike the "Climb" variants, Style 7 explores a Linear Descending Passage. It creates a feeling of cooling down or settling, making it perfect for the outro of a track or a pensive verse bridge where the energy needs to ground itself naturally.
A smooth, step-wise descent through the key of Bb Major:
| Bar | Chord | Harmonic Function | Root Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar 1 | Bbmaj9 | I (Tonic) – The Grounded Home | Bb |
| Bar 2.1 | Am7 | vii (Diatonic Slide) – The First Step Down | A |
| Bar 2.2 | Abmaj7 | bVII (Subtonic) – The Blue Note Resolve | Ab |
"The secret to the Donny Hathaway sound is the 'Gospel Spread'—staggering the notes of the right-hand chord by 8–14 ticks so they roll into each other rather than hitting all at once."
