What Is the Minor Line Cliché—And How Can It Add Color to Your Piano Playing?
- Diana Mascari
- May 17
- 5 min read
Updated: May 19
If you’re like many of my adult students, the phrase “minor line cliché” might sound a little puzzling at first.
You might be wondering:
Let’s start with the basics.
So, What Is the Minor Line Cliché?
The minor line cliché is a common chord progression built on a minor chord, featuring a descending line—usually in the bass—that’s widely used in jazz, pop, and film music.
Back in 1966, a pop hit called Sunny by Bobby Hebb featured a small chord pattern that caught the ear of many musicians—and it’s still used today. When I started teaching, I noticed how helpful this little progression was for creating variety in a song, so I used to call it the “handy variation.” And it really is handy!
Later, while working on my master’s in jazz studies at New England Conservatory, I met classmates from Berklee College of Music. They knew this same pattern but had learned it by a different name: the minor line cliché. I thought that was a perfect way to describe it, so I adopted the term—and I’ve used it ever since.
Here’s what the name means:
Minor – because the pattern is built on a minor chord
Line – because one of the notes (usually the bass or a lower voice) moves down in half steps, creating a smooth, melodic line
Cliché – because it's been used so often in popular, jazz, and film music that it’s instantly recognizable
In fact, my long-time colleague, jazz guitarist John Dougherty, used to write “cliché” right on his chord charts whenever this progression popped up. That’s how common—and useful—it is.
When Can You Use the Minor Line Cliché?
This little musical tool comes in handy whenever a song has a minor chord that lasts for two or more measures. It’s a great way to add motion and interest.
In example No. 1 below, you can see how the G minor chord is played in its usual two measure length with its smooth descending line underneath it: Gm – Gm/G♭ – Gm/F – Gm/E (when we are playing the full chord, it’s called Block Chords).
Each chord lasts for two beats, and the bass note steps down in half steps while the G minor quality stays on top. It’s simple, elegant, and full of emotional flavor.
The best part? Once you get the hang of it, you can spot opportunities to use it all over the place. Sometimes it shows up once in a song, sometimes three or four times. Either way, it adds something rich and expressive to your playing.
How Do You Use the Minor Line Cliché in Different Styles of Songs?
Here’s something helpful to remember as you start exploring the minor line cliché: it’s always based on a three-note minor chord (also called a minor triad). That stays the same—even if the rest of the song uses four-note chords like major 7ths, minor 7ths, or dominant 7ths.
Let’s say you’re playing a standard like All of Me. Even though that tune has jazzy chords with lots of color, the minor line cliché keeps its simple form. What changes is how you play it—depending on the left-hand accompaniment pattern you’re using in the song.
To help you see how this works, I’ve included a few examples on the page that show the G minor chord (G–B♭–D) paired with a descending line in the bass. Each example uses a different accompaniment style:
Example 2 – Oom Pah
Example 3 – Alberti Bass
Example 4 – Rolling 10ths
Example 5 – 10th System (Medium Swing)
Example 6 – Stride
Example 7 – Walking Bass
These patterns aren’t just exercises—they’re real tools you can use in the songs you’re learning.
For instance, if you’re playing All of Me with an oom-pah or stride feel, you can plug in the minor line cliché from Example 2 or 6, and it’ll sound great. If you’re using a walking bass line, Example 7 will fit right in.
Try out each style to see which one feels most natural to you—and don’t be afraid to experiment! This is one of those techniques that becomes more fun (and more expressive) the more you use it.
Example No. 8
Once in a while a situation comes up where the minor line cliche is needed, but it's only for one measure. Here are a couple of ways ypu can handle this situation.
The audio files (labeled handi variation) For each of the above musical examples are in the Soundcloud player below. Use the slider on the right of the player to locate each of the tracks.
The examples are listed 2 - 8 and play one after the other.
How Can the Minor Line Cliché Make Your Piano Playing Sound More Interesting?
The minor line cliché adds movement, emotion, and sophistication to your playing by turning static minor chords into stepwise bass lines that keep the music flowing and engaging.
If you’ve ever played a song and thought, “This sounds fine, but a little flat or repetitive,” the minor line cliché might be exactly what you need. It adds a beautiful sense of movement and color to a chord that’s sitting still for two measures. Instead of playing the same minor chord over and over, you create a gentle bass line that descends step by step.
Even a simple change like this can give your playing a more sophisticated, expressive, and personal sound. It’s one of those small tools that brings big rewards, especially when you’re arranging songs yourself or playing from a fake book or lead sheet.
Whether you're working on a jazz standard, a pop song, or a holiday favorite, using the minor line cliché helps your left-hand accompaniment sound more professional and engaging. It also keeps things interesting for your ear—because instead of repeating the same chord, you’re guiding the music forward with purpose.
In short, the minor line cliché adds emotional depth, musical interest, and personal flair—all without adding too much technical difficulty. And once you try it, you may start hearing it in all kinds of songs… and finding new ways to use it in your own playing.
Conclusion: A Small Shift That Makes a Big Difference
The minor line cliché is just one of many basic tools that can bring your piano playing to life—especially if you're returning to music after years away or starting fresh after playing another instrument. It adds beauty, variety, and depth without requiring advanced technique.
And most importantly, it helps you play in a way that feels expressive and satisfying.
If this sparked your curiosity and you’d like to explore how piano lessons might work for you at this stage in life, I’d love to connect.
We’ll talk about your musical background, your goals, and how we can make piano playing joyful and rewarding—no matter where you're starting from.
Diana Mascari-Piano Teacher for Adults
About Diana Mascari - Online Piano Teacher for Adults
Diana Mascari has taught piano to hundreds of adults and children for more than 47 years.
She holds two Masters of Music degrees from New England Conservatory and taught keyboard harmony to music majors while pursuing doctoral studies at Boston University. She was the music director for a multi-cultural Presbyterian Church for four decades, and her jazz and lassical compositions have been performed worldwide. Diana has been performing for more than 50 years. From solo piano to commercial groups touring the East Coast to leading her own jazz ensembles at colleges and jazz clubs throughout New England.
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