Classical · Intermediate · minor key
i–ii°–V–i (classical minor)
i – ii° – V – i — A textbook minor-key cadence with the diminished ii chord.
Chord shapes in A 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 i – ii° – V – i — in A minor that is Am – Bdim – E – Am. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- i — the minor home chord.
- ii° — the diminished two of a minor key, leading to V.
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
i–ii°–V–i (classical minor) in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| A minor | AmBdimEAm | Looper |
| E minor | EmF#dimBEm | Looper |
| B minor | BmC#dimF#Bm | Looper |
| F# minor | F#mG#dimC#F#m | Looper |
| C# minor | C#mD#dimG#C#m | Looper |
| G# minor | G#mA#dimD#G#m | Looper |
| Eb minor | EbmFdimBbEbm | Looper |
| Bb minor | BbmCdimFBbm | Looper |
| F minor | FmGdimCFm | Looper |
| C minor | CmDdimGCm | Looper |
| G minor | GmAdimDGm | Looper |
| D minor | DmEdimADm | 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 A 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 A minor pentatonic or A natural minor or A 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
- Descending lament (i–♭VII–♭VI–V) i – ♭VII – ♭VI – V7
- La Folia i – V – i – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VII – i – V
- Picardy third (i–iv–V–I) i – iv – V – I
- Neapolitan (i–♭II–V–i) i – ♭II – V – i
- Minor circle of fifths i – iv – ♭VII – ♭III – ♭VI – ii° – V – i
- Romanesca ♭III – ♭VII – i – V – ♭III – ♭VII – i – V
← i–iv–♭VI–V · Extended Canon turnaround →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the i – ii° – V – i progression?
In A minor: Am – Bdim – E – Am. In C major / A minor: Am – Bdim – E – Am. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play i – ii° – V – i on guitar?
A minor uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.