Jazz · Intermediate · minor key
Minor ii–V–i
iiø7 – V7 – i – i — The minor-key version of the ii–V–I, with a half-diminished ii.
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 iiø7 – V7 – i – i — in A minor that is Bm7b5 – E7 – Am – Am. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- 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 in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | Bm7b5E7AmAm | Looper |
| E minor | F#m7b5B7EmEm | Looper |
| B minor | C#m7b5F#7BmBm | Looper |
| F# minor | G#m7b5C#7F#mF#m | Looper |
| C# minor | D#m7b5G#7C#mC#m | Looper |
| G# minor | A#m7b5D#7G#mG#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | Fm7b5Bb7EbmEbm | Looper |
| Bb minor | Cm7b5F7BbmBbm | Looper |
| F minor | Gm7b5C7FmFm | Looper |
| C minor | Dm7b5G7CmCm | Looper |
| G minor | Am7b5D7GmGm | Looper |
| D minor | Em7b5A7DmDm | 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 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–i chain ("Autumn Leaves") iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 – ♭VImaj7 – iiø7 – V7 – i – i
- Minor ii–V to the relative major iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7
- Modal i7–ii7 vamp i7 – ii7
- Minor line cliché into iv i – imaj7 – i7 – iv
- Imaj7–vi7–ii7–V7 Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7
- ii–V–I–IV ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – IVmaj7
← Minor ii–V–i chain ("Autumn Leaves") · Minor blues →
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Questions
What chords are in the iiø7 – V7 – i – i progression?
In E minor: F#m7b5 – B7 – Em – Em. In C major / A minor: Bm7b5 – E7 – Am – Am. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play 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.