What is the most common jazz chord progression?

The ii–V–I. In C major it's Dm7–G7–Cmaj7. Almost every jazz standard is a chain of ii–V–Is moving through different keys, so learning it in all 12 keys is the classic first step.

What is a jazz turnaround?

A short progression at the end of a section that leads back to the start, most often I–vi–ii–V (Cmaj7–Am7–Dm7–G7). Variations replace chords with substitutes, such as a dominant on vi (A7) or a tritone substitute on V (D♭7).

What makes a chord progression sound jazzy?

Seventh and ninth chords instead of triads, ii–V movement by fifths, smooth voice leading of the 3rds and 7ths, a walking bass and swing. Even a pop progression sounds jazzy played that way.

Jazz Chord Progressions: ii–V

Jazz Chord Progressions: ii–V–I, Turnarounds and Rhythm Changes

Most jazz harmony is built from one move: the ii–V–I (Dm7–G7–Cmaj7 in C), where each chord pulls to the next by fifths. Turnarounds such as I–vi–ii–V chain those pulls to loop back home, and the minor version iiø7–V7–i gives the darker colour of tunes in minor. Play them with 7th chords, rootless voicings and a walking bass, and you have the sound.

The essential jazz progressions

ii–V–I
In C major / C minor
Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7
What it does
The core cadence: tension (V7) resolving home
I–vi–ii–V
In C major / C minor
Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7
What it does
The classic turnaround, loops back to I
iii–vi–ii–V
In C major / C minor
Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7
What it does
A longer chain of fifths, smoother and more sophisticated
iiø7–V7–i
In C major / C minor
Dm7♭5 – G7 – Cm7
What it does
Minor ii–V–i: darker, used in minor-key standards
I–IV–iii–vi
In C major / C minor
Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Em7 – Am7
What it does
Gentle, ballad-like movement
Rhythm changes (A section)
In C major / C minor
B♭–Gm7–Cm7–F7 ×2
What it does
Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' pattern, the basis of hundreds of tunes

Progression	In C major / C minor	What it does
ii–V–I	Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7	The core cadence: tension (V7) resolving home
I–vi–ii–V	Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7	The classic turnaround, loops back to I
iii–vi–ii–V	Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7	A longer chain of fifths, smoother and more sophisticated
iiø7–V7–i	Dm7♭5 – G7 – Cm7	Minor ii–V–i: darker, used in minor-key standards
I–IV–iii–vi	Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Em7 – Am7	Gentle, ballad-like movement
Rhythm changes (A section)	B♭–Gm7–Cm7–F7 ×2	Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' pattern, the basis of hundreds of tunes

How jazz pianists voice them

7ths everywhere: major 7 on I and IV, minor 7 on ii, iii and vi, dominant 7 on V. Triads alone sound like pop.
Rootless voicings: the bass plays the root, so the piano plays 3–5–7–9 (for Dm9: F–A–C–E).
Guide tones: the 3rd and 7th carry the harmony. From Dm7 to G7, the C (7th of Dm) falls a half step to B (3rd of G7). Move those voices smoothly and every progression sounds right.
Walking bass: quarter notes, chord tones on the beat, a chromatic step into each new root.

HookSongwriting instrument

New idea

Hook wrote this hook. Lock what you love, roll the rest.

–

Emotion · drag the points

Genre

Melody0 notes

Chords0 notes

Bass0 notes

Counter0 notes

Drums0 notes

Bend

Mod

Key

Swing

Space

Volume

The real plugin engine, running in your browser: same DSP code and presets as the VST3/AU/AAX.

Jazz Club: ii–V–I style harmony with rootless 7ths, walking bass and a swung ride. Press play, then hum a line.

Play any of these in our free chord progression generator: pick Jazz, press play, then hum a melody and it re-harmonises around you.

Jazz Chord Progressions: ii–V–I, Turnarounds and Rhythm Changes

The essential jazz progressions

ii–V–I
In C major / C minor
Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7
What it does
The core cadence: tension (V7) resolving home
I–vi–ii–V
In C major / C minor
Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7
What it does
The classic turnaround, loops back to I
iii–vi–ii–V
In C major / C minor
Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7
What it does
A longer chain of fifths, smoother and more sophisticated
iiø7–V7–i
In C major / C minor
Dm7♭5 – G7 – Cm7
What it does
Minor ii–V–i: darker, used in minor-key standards
I–IV–iii–vi
In C major / C minor
Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Em7 – Am7
What it does
Gentle, ballad-like movement
Rhythm changes (A section)
In C major / C minor
B♭–Gm7–Cm7–F7 ×2
What it does
Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' pattern, the basis of hundreds of tunes

Progression	In C major / C minor	What it does
ii–V–I	Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7	The core cadence: tension (V7) resolving home
I–vi–ii–V	Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7	The classic turnaround, loops back to I
iii–vi–ii–V	Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7	A longer chain of fifths, smoother and more sophisticated
iiø7–V7–i	Dm7♭5 – G7 – Cm7	Minor ii–V–i: darker, used in minor-key standards
I–IV–iii–vi	Cmaj7 – Fmaj7 – Em7 – Am7	Gentle, ballad-like movement
Rhythm changes (A section)	B♭–Gm7–Cm7–F7 ×2	Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' pattern, the basis of hundreds of tunes

How jazz pianists voice them

7ths everywhere: major 7 on I and IV, minor 7 on ii, iii and vi, dominant 7 on V. Triads alone sound like pop.

Rootless voicings: the bass plays the root, so the piano plays 3–5–7–9 (for Dm9: F–A–C–E).

Guide tones: the 3rd and 7th carry the harmony. From Dm7 to G7, the C (7th of Dm) falls a half step to B (3rd of G7). Move those voices smoothly and every progression sounds right.

Walking bass: quarter notes, chord tones on the beat, a chromatic step into each new root.

HookSongwriting instrument

New idea

Hook wrote this hook. Lock what you love, roll the rest.

–

Emotion · drag the points

Genre

Melody0 notes

Chords0 notes

Bass0 notes

Counter0 notes

Drums0 notes

Bend

Mod

Key

Swing

Space

Volume

The real plugin engine, running in your browser: same DSP code and presets as the VST3/AU/AAX.

Jazz Club: ii–V–I style harmony with rootless 7ths, walking bass and a swung ride. Press play, then hum a line.

Play any of these in our free chord progression generator: pick Jazz, press play, then hum a melody and it re-harmonises around you.

Jazz Chord Progressions: ii–V–I, Turnarounds and Rhythm Changes

Our picks

Hook

Keys

The essential jazz progressions

How jazz pianists voice them

Genre

People also ask

Every plugin on this page, and the rest. All 22, €229.

Jazz Chord Progressions: ii–V–I, Turnarounds and Rhythm Changes

Our picks

Hook

Keys

The essential jazz progressions

How jazz pianists voice them

Genre

People also ask

Every plugin on this page, and the rest. All 22, €229.