Jazz Standards Library

Theory

ii–V–I

The cadence that organises much of the jazz repertoire: minor seventh, dominant seventh, tonic.

The ii–V–I is the most common cadence in jazz. In a major key, a minor seventh chord on the second degree resolves to a dominant seventh on the fifth degree, which resolves to the tonic. In C major that is Dm7 | G7 | Cmaj7.

The bass moves down by fifths, while the upper voices often move by step. That combination of strong root motion and smooth voice leading is why the progression can support so many melodies. In minor keys the ii chord usually becomes half-diminished: Dm7b5 | G7b9 | Cm7.

Dm7 | G7 | Cmaj7   ·   Dm7b5 | G7b9 | Cm7

ii–V–I cells appear in isolation, chained together, and embedded inside longer forms. Practise them in all twelve keys, then look for the places where a tune compresses or extends the basic three-chord shape.

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