ii–V–IChord progression · ii – V7 – I – I
Jazz foundation — the strongest resolution in harmony.
In C major
Why the ii–V–I progression works
The ii–V–I is the most common cadence in jazz. The roots fall a fifth each step, and the 7th of each chord drops a half step into the 3rd of the next. Smooth notes and a strong bass pull are why it sounds like a sentence ending.
Songs built on it, each in its own key:
- Autumn Leaves
- Fly Me to the Moon
Heard in: Jazz bluesSoulR&B and neo-soulSwing and standardsBossa nova
How to play ii–V–I in C major
One voicing per chord, each the nearest to the chord before, so your hand stays in one spot. Open any chord in the chord library for every other way to play it.
ii–V–I chords in all 12 keys
The same numerals in every key. Each chord opens in the chord library, and each key plays in the progression builder.
What scale to play over ii–V–I
Over the whole progression in C major: C Major, C Major pentatonic. To follow every chord, switch to the scale the progression builder picks for it.
| Chord | Scale over it |
|---|---|
| ii · Dm | D Dorian |
| V7 · G7 | G Mixolydian |
| I · C | C Major |
ii–V–I questions
What are the chords of the ii–V–I progression?
ii – V7 – I – I. In C major that is Dm, G7, C, C; in G major it is Am, D7, G, G.
Which songs use the ii–V–I progression?
Autumn Leaves and Fly Me to the Moon, each in its own key.
What scale do you play over the ii–V–I progression?
C Major and C Major pentatonic fit the whole progression in C major. Chord by chord: D Dorian over Dm, G Mixolydian over G7, C Major over C.
How do you play the ii–V–I progression in another key?
Keep the numerals and move every chord by the same distance. The table on this page spells it in all 12 keys, and each key opens in the progression builder.