Chord progression · A major

The jazz cadence (ii–V–I) in A major

The most important progression in jazz: ii7 sets up the tension of V7, which resolves home to Imaj7. Jazz standards are full of ii–V–I’s moving through different keys.

Heard in “Autumn Leaves” (built from ii–V–I’s) and many more.

Chords in A major: Bm7→E7→Amaj7
Numerals: ii7V7Imaj7

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

Tempo 90 BPM Click

1Bm7ii7

2E7V7

3Amaj7Imaj7

4Amaj7Imaj7

Strum pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

ii7 Bm7

B D F♯ A

V7 E7

E7/B

Imaj7 Amaj7

Amaj7/C♯

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.

ii–V–I in every key

C D♭D E♭E F F♯G A♭A B♭B

More progressions in A major

I–V–vi–IV I–IV–V–IV I–vi–IV–V vi–IV–I–V 12-bar blues I–vi–ii–V I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V I–♭VII–IV–I