Jazz · Advanced · major key
Jazz circle iii–vi–ii–V–I
iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 — A longer chain of falling fifths, common in standards and bossa nova.
Easiest guitar key: G major
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 iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 — in C major that is Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- iii7 — a gentle minor chord that shares two notes with I.
- vi7 — the relative minor — the "sad" chord of a major key.
- ii7 — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
- V7 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
- Imaj7 — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
Jazz circle iii–vi–ii–V–I in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | Em7Am7Dm7G7Cmaj7 | Looper |
| G major | Bm7Em7Am7D7Gmaj7 | Looper |
| D major | F#m7Bm7Em7A7Dmaj7 | Looper |
| A major | C#m7F#m7Bm7E7Amaj7 | Looper |
| E major | G#m7C#m7F#m7B7Emaj7 | Looper |
| B major | D#m7G#m7C#m7F#7Bmaj7 | Looper |
| F# major | A#m7D#m7G#m7C#7F#maj7 | Looper |
| Db major | Fm7Bbm7Ebm7Ab7Dbmaj7 | Looper |
| Ab major | Cm7Fm7Bbm7Eb7Abmaj7 | Looper |
| Eb major | Gm7Cm7Fm7Bb7Ebmaj7 | Looper |
| Bb major | Dm7Gm7Cm7F7Bbmaj7 | Looper |
| F major | Am7Dm7Gm7C7Fmaj7 | Looper |
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
- 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
- ii–V–iii–vi chain ii7 – V7 – iii7 – vi7
- "Fly Me to the Moon" cycle vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – IVmaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7
- I–vi–ii–V turnaround I – vi – ii – V
- I6–vi7 swing vamp I6 – vi7 – ii7 – V7
← ii–V–I–VI turnaround · "Fly Me to the Moon" cycle →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 progression?
In G major: Bm7 – Em7 – Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7. In C major / A minor: Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 on guitar?
G major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.