Practice

ii–V–I

Jazz's most common cadence: a minor-seventh chord slides to a dominant seventh that resolves home to a major seventh. Nearly every jazz standard leans on this three-chord move somewhere in its form.

Roman numerals: ii7–V7–Imaj7 — heard in Autumn Leaves, Fly Me to the Moon, and Tune Up.

The ii–V–I progression

Jazz's most common cadence: a minor-seventh chord slides to a dominant seventh that resolves home to a major seventh. Nearly every jazz standard leans on this three-chord move somewhere in its form.

Roman-numeral formula: ii7–V7–Imaj7.

Example in the key of C

Played in the key of C, ii7–V7–Imaj7 becomes:

  1. Dm7 — the ii7 chord
  2. G7 — the V7 chord
  3. Cmaj7 — the Imaj7 chord

Tap any chord above for fingerings and voicings, or build this progression yourself in the progression builder.

Famous songs that use it

  • Autumn Leaves
  • Fly Me to the Moon
  • Tune Up