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Chord progressions · Jazz ii–V–I

ii–V–I chord progression in every key

The jazz ii–V–I is ii7–V7–Imaj7. In C major that is Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7.

Play it

Hear it in any key

Each chord falls a fifth to the next — a walk anticlockwise around the circle.

ii7 moves away, V7 pulls back home and Imaj7 is home. Pick a key and press play; the stay the same while the chords move.

  • Jazz ii–V–I in C major

    ii7 – V7 – Imaj7

    1. Dm7
    2. G7
    3. Cmaj7

    Each chord falls a fifth to the next — a walk anticlockwise around the circle.

    Heard in Autumn Leaves, Fly Me to the Moon

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Practise the changes in time Play it with a capo

Every key

Jazz ii–V–I in all 12 major keys

Each row is the same progression. Tap a chord to learn its shapes, or a key to hear all of its chords.

Jazz ii–V–I in every major key
KeyChords
C major
G major
D major
A major
E major
B major
F♯ major
D♭ major
A♭ major
E♭ major
B♭ major
F major

Questions

Jazz ii–V–I, in short

What is the jazz ii–V–I?
The jazz ii–V–I is ii7–V7–Imaj7. In C major that is Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7. Each chord falls a fifth to the next — a walk anticlockwise around the circle.
What are the chords of the jazz ii–V–I in C major?
Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7. ii7 moves away, V7 pulls back home and Imaj7 is home.
What songs use the jazz ii–V–I?
You can hear it in Autumn Leaves and Fly Me to the Moon, among many others.

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