Jazz · Advanced · major key

ii–V–iii–vi chain

ii7 – V7 – iii7 – vi7 — Two linked ii–V-style moves that keep the harmony floating.

Chord shapes in G major (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 ii7 – V7 – iii7 – vi7 — in C major that is Dm7 – G7 – Em7 – Am7. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.

• ii7 — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
• V7 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
• iii7 — a gentle minor chord that shares two notes with I.
• vi7 — the relative minor — the "sad" chord of a major key.

ii–V–iii–vi chain in all 12 keys

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 G major 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 G major pentatonic or G major 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

• Jazz circle iii–vi–ii–V–I iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7
• Rhythm changes A section Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7
• Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
• "Fly Me to the Moon" cycle vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – IVmaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7
• iii–VI7–ii–V7 turnaround iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7
• I–vi–ii–V turnaround I – vi – ii – V

← I–V–vi–V · ii–V–I–IV →

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