Need to figure out a turnaround

Working on a a jazz progression.

The song is key of E minor, and the beginning/"verse" is:

Emaj7 - D6 - Emaj7 - D6

and the beginning of my turnaround is:

Cmaj - Cmaj7 - D7 - D#7b5


I need to figure out a way to get back to Emaj7. I can't just go there, because D#7b5 resolves to an Emin7, not maj. Any ideas?




Here's one that I've been fooling with:
Cmaj - Cmaj7 - D7 - D#7b5 - Fmin7 - B13 - B b13 - Emin9 - Adom7 - Emaj7

Doesn't sound quite right, though.

I play the root of the chord as a bass line, with the chord played in between. Bass does a chromatic walk between the Emaj7 and D6.

First of all, you have no mention of the melody. Without that factored in I can only make suggestions on chord function.

Originally Posted by: FlyingJbird
I need to figure out a way to get back to Emaj7. I can't just go there, because D#7b5 resolves to an Emin7, not maj. Any ideas?

Actually, D#7b5 resolves to D. It's a tritone substitution for an A7.

If you want to get back to E, then cycle five your way there from C.

C - F - Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Cb (which is B and therefore the V of E) > E

Or you can do the stereotypical 4 chord cycle five jazz turnaround:

G#min7 - C#7b9 - F#min7 - B7b9 > E

Or you could simply change your chord voicing to function correctly:

Cmaj - Cmaj7 - D7 - D#dim7

Now your D# chord is a vii dim of E and will move to E quite nicely.

I honestly don't see why the Eb7(b5) doesn't work going into the Emaj7. My reasoning is that your third in the Eb chord is G. If you move to Emi7, you are still on G. BORING! That half step movement from G to G# creates a nice sound and having just played the progression, I think it really works. Stick to that.

Chris is right. There is no mention of melody here, and that would tell us a lot as the melody is always key. That will help you more than anything. If there is no melody, I would let your ears do the work and do what you think sounds good. If you are doing this for yourself, be creative and see where your ears take you.

That's my advice. :rolleyes: