By John Coltrane

Mr. P.C.

Mr. P.C. is a minor blues composed by John Coltrane in 1959 and first recorded on the album Giant Steps. The tune was written as a tribute to bassist Paul Chambers. Built on a 12-bar minor blues form, the tune is typically played at a fast swing tempo. Its simple structure combined with its intensity makes it a favorite of jazz musicians of all levels.

By John Coltrane

Mr. P.C.

Mr. P.C.
is a minor blues composed by John Coltrane in 1959 and first recorded on the album Giant Steps. The tune was written as a tribute to bassist Paul Chambers. Built on a 12-bar minor blues form, the tune is typically played at a fast swing tempo. Its simple structure combined with its intensity makes it a favorite of jazz musicians of all levels.

Chord Charts: Mr. P.C.

Chord Charts

Learn the chord changes to

Mr. P.C.

using common lead sheets for C, Bb, and Eb instruments.

Form: Blues
Total Bars: 12 bars
Common Key(s): C minor
How to Play This Tune

Step 1: Understand Minor Harmony on a Deep Level

Before you can really play Mr. P.C., you need to understand how minor harmony actually works. A minor blues isn’t just a major blues with a different scale—the function of chords, the role of the V7, and the treatment of tonic minor all shape how the form sounds. By understanding where the chords come from and how minor harmony is built, the progression becomes much clearer and easier to hear.

FREE Everything You Don’t Know About Minor Harmony in Jazz Everything You Don’t Know About Minor Harmony in Jazz

Step 2: Study Coltrane’s Approach to Mr. P.C.

With the harmonic foundation in place, the next step is studying how Coltrane plays over the form. His approach to Mr. P.C. shows how to hear the three 4-bar sections, navigate key transitions, and create forward motion over long stretches of minor harmony, giving you a direct model for how to actually play the tune.

PRO Master The Minor Blues: A Deep Dive into John Coltrane’s Mr. P.C. Master The Minor Blues: A Deep Dive into John Coltrane’s Mr. P.C.

Step 3: Develop Real Language Over Minor Chords

To sound strong on Mr. P.C., you need real language over minor chords, not just minor scales or generic licks. By studying players like Clifford Brown, you begin to build melodic vocabulary—phrases, shapes, and ideas—that create motion and keep your lines connected over extended minor sections.

FREE 8 Easy Ways to Play Minor Chords Like Clifford Brown 8 Easy Ways to Play Minor Chords Like Clifford Brown

Step 4: Practice Bebop Devices to Play Over Minor Clearly

The final step is developing bebop devices you can rely on in real time. Studying how players like Sonny Stitt build their language from simple exercises helps you move beyond reacting to chords and toward a more complete approach to minor harmony rooted in structure, vocabulary, and musical intent.

PRO The Sonny Stitt Playbook – His 2 Exercises to Master Minor The Sonny Stitt Playbook – His 2 Exercises to Master Minor

Videos

Videos: Mr. P.C.

How to Play Mr. P.C.

Step 1: Understand Minor Harmony on a Deep Level

Before you can really play Mr. P.C., you need to understand how minor harmony actually works. A minor blues isn’t just a major blues with a different scale—the function of chords, the role of the V7, and the treatment of tonic minor all shape how the form sounds. By understanding where the chords come from and how minor harmony is built, the progression becomes much clearer and easier to hear.

FREE Everything You Don’t Know About Minor Harmony in Jazz Everything You Don’t Know About Minor Harmony in Jazz

Step 2: Study Coltrane’s Approach to Mr. P.C.

With the harmonic foundation in place, the next step is studying how Coltrane plays over the form. His approach to Mr. P.C. shows how to hear the three 4-bar sections, navigate key transitions, and create forward motion over long stretches of minor harmony, giving you a direct model for how to actually play the tune.

PRO Master The Minor Blues: A Deep Dive into John Coltrane’s Mr. P.C. Master The Minor Blues: A Deep Dive into John Coltrane’s Mr. P.C.

Step 3: Develop Real Language Over Minor Chords

To sound strong on Mr. P.C., you need real language over minor chords, not just minor scales or generic licks. By studying players like Clifford Brown, you begin to build melodic vocabulary—phrases, shapes, and ideas—that create motion and keep your lines connected over extended minor sections.

FREE 8 Easy Ways to Play Minor Chords Like Clifford Brown 8 Easy Ways to Play Minor Chords Like Clifford Brown

Step 4: Practice Bebop Devices to Play Over Minor Clearly

The final step is developing bebop devices you can rely on in real time. Studying how players like Sonny Stitt build their language from simple exercises helps you move beyond reacting to chords and toward a more complete approach to minor harmony rooted in structure, vocabulary, and musical intent.

PRO The Sonny Stitt Playbook – His 2 Exercises to Master Minor The Sonny Stitt Playbook – His 2 Exercises to Master Minor

Ready to Take Your Playing Further?

Forrest Wernick
Eric O'Donnell

We’re Forrest & Eric. We’ve learned from a ton of great players like Mulgrew Miller, Rich Perry, and Harold Mabern, and now we focus on helping musicians deeply understand jazz, one tune, concept, and skill at a time.

Download Our New 70-Page Jazz Book (Free)

Enter your email below and we’ll send you our book, The Making of a Jazz Musician — a guide to the realizations that reshape how jazz musicians learn to hear and play.

Develop Your Jazz Improvisation
The PRO
Way

PRO gives you access to our jazz courses and most detailed lessons, including deep dives into tunes, harmony, and improvisation.