Chord progression · C major

The jazz cadence (ii–V–I) in C 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 C major: Dm7→G7→Cmaj7
Numerals: ii7V7Imaj7

Play along

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

Tempo 90 BPM Click

1Dm7ii7

2G7V7

3Cmaj7Imaj7

4Cmaj7Imaj7

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

The chords

ii7 Dm7

D F A C

V7 G7

G7/D

Imaj7 Cmaj7

Cmaj7/E

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 C 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