The identical device aimed at the ii chord — and a chromatic bass walk for free: 1, #1, 2. This is the Gdim move from the romantic chart, respelled so the leading tone does its job.
hear it in ragtime & gospel walk-ups
Lead-in — how players set it up1 first, so the chromatic bass 1 → #1 → 2 reads clearly.From 6-⁷, so the bass falls then climbs: 6, 1, #1, 2.Or from 4 — the dim7 reads as a passing shadow.Follow — where it usually goes2- is the top of the home stretch: 5⁷, then 1.Keep climbing the diminished stairway to 3-.Or swap 5⁷ for its tritone sub on the way home.
Arpeggiate the ♯1°7 upward and resolve each note a half step up — the 2- chord's root and 3rd are the landing pads.Target tones (in C)C — lean on E (3)C#°7 — lean on E (b3) · Bb (bb7)Dm7 — lean on F (b3) · C (b7)Half-step wiresC → C# · C# → D · E → F