Jazz · Advanced · minor key
Minor ii–V to the relative major
iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 — A minor ii–V–i followed by a ii–V–I in the relative major.
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 iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 — in A minor that is Bm7b5 – E7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. 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.
- i7 — the minor home chord.
- 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).
Minor ii–V to the relative major in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | Bm7b5E7Am7Dm7G7Cmaj7 | Looper |
| E minor | F#m7b5B7Em7Am7D7Gmaj7 | Looper |
| B minor | C#m7b5F#7Bm7Em7A7Dmaj7 | Looper |
| F# minor | G#m7b5C#7F#m7Bm7E7Amaj7 | Looper |
| C# minor | D#m7b5G#7C#m7F#m7B7Emaj7 | Looper |
| G# minor | A#m7b5D#7G#m7C#m7Gb7Bmaj7 | Looper |
| Eb minor | Fm7b5Bb7Ebm7Abm7Db7Gbmaj7 | Looper |
| Bb minor | Cm7b5F7Bbm7Ebm7Ab7Dbmaj7 | Looper |
| F minor | Gm7b5C7Fm7Bbm7Eb7Abmaj7 | Looper |
| C minor | Dm7b5G7Cm7Fm7Bb7Ebmaj7 | Looper |
| G minor | Am7b5D7Gm7Cm7F7Bbmaj7 | Looper |
| D minor | Em7b5A7Dm7Gm7C7Fmaj7 | 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
- Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
- "Hotel California" progression i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V
- Minor circle of fifths i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i
- Minor ii–V–i iiø7 – V7 – i – i
- Romanesca ♭III – ♭VII – i – V – ♭III – ♭VII – i – V
← i–♭VI–iv–V7 · Minor line cliché into iv →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 progression?
In E minor: F#m7b5 – B7 – Em7 – Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7. In C major / A minor: Bm7b5 – E7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play iiø7 – V7 – i7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – ♭IIImaj7 on guitar?
E minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.