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Chord progression · E major

The jazz cadence (ii–V–I) in E 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 E major
F♯m7→B7→Emaj7
Numerals
ii7V7Imaj7

Play along

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

1F♯m7ii7
2B7V7
3Emaj7Imaj7
4Emaj7Imaj7

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

The chords

ii7 F♯m7
1F♯3C♯1E1A1C♯E
1A3E2F♯A
AC4EF♯C♯F♯ A C♯ E
V7 B7
×2B1D♯3AB4F♯
3B2D♯1F♯A
ABC4F♯D♯B7/F♯
Imaj7 Emaj7
E3B1D♯2G♯BE
1G♯3D♯E2B
BC4EG♯D♯Emaj7/G♯

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

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in E major

I–V–vi–IVI–IV–V–IVI–vi–IV–Vvi–IV–I–V12-bar bluesI–vi–ii–VI–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–VI–♭VII–IV–I