Jazz · Advanced · minor key
Minor ii–V–i chain ("Autumn Leaves")
iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i — A major ii–V–I followed by a minor ii–V–i: the essential jazz standard progression.
Easiest guitar key: E minor
Chord shapes in E minor (standard tuning)
Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.
How the chords work
Written in Roman numerals, this progression is iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i — in A minor that is Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Bm7b5 – E7 – Am – Am. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- iv7 — the minor four chord: darker and more emotional.
- ♭VII7 — a major chord a whole step below home, borrowed from the minor key — classic rock swagger.
- ♭IIImaj7 — a major chord borrowed from the minor key (the relative major in a minor key).
- ♭VImaj7 — a major chord borrowed from the minor key: epic and dramatic.
- iiø7 — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
- V7 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
- i — the minor home chord.
Minor ii–V–i chain ("Autumn Leaves") in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | Dm7G7Cmaj7Fmaj7Bm7b5E7AmAm | Looper |
| E minor | Am7D7Gmaj7Cmaj7F#m7b5B7EmEm | Looper |
| B minor | Em7A7Dmaj7Gmaj7C#m7b5F#7BmBm | Looper |
| F# minor | Bm7E7Amaj7Dmaj7G#m7b5C#7F#mF#m | Looper |
| C# minor | F#m7B7Emaj7Amaj7D#m7b5G#7C#mC#m | Looper |
| G# minor | C#m7Gb7Bmaj7Emaj7A#m7b5D#7G#mG#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | Abm7Db7Gbmaj7Bmaj7Fm7b5Bb7EbmEbm | Looper |
| Bb minor | Ebm7Ab7Dbmaj7Gbmaj7Cm7b5F7BbmBbm | Looper |
| F minor | Bbm7Eb7Abmaj7Dbmaj7Gm7b5C7FmFm | Looper |
| C minor | Fm7Bb7Ebmaj7Abmaj7Dm7b5G7CmCm | Looper |
| G minor | Cm7F7Bbmaj7Ebmaj7Am7b5D7GmGm | Looper |
| D minor | Gm7C7Fmaj7Bbmaj7Em7b5A7DmDm | Looper |
Songs that use it
- Autumn Leaves — Joseph Kosma
Song examples use this progression (or a very close variant) in at least one main section; keys and voicings differ.
Practice ideas
- Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
- Change keys with a capo: keep the E minor shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
- Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the E minor pentatonic or E natural minor or E blues scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
- Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.
Similar progressions
- Minor ii–V to the relative major iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7
- "Hotel California" progression i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V
- Minor circle of fifths i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i
- Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
- Minor 7th soul loop (i7–iv7–♭VII7–♭IIImaj7) i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7
- i–♭VII–♭VIsus2–V i – ♭VII – ♭VIsus2 – V
← Minor circle of fifths · Minor ii–V–i →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i progression?
In E minor: Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7 – Cmaj7 – F#m7b5 – B7 – Em – Em. In C major / A minor: Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Bm7b5 – E7 – Am – Am. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.
What songs use the minor ii–v–i chain ("autumn leaves")?
For example: Autumn Leaves — Joseph Kosma.