Guitar · progressions # ii–V–I in A minor on guitar ii–V–I in A minor: Bm7♭5 – E7 – Am7 – Am7. Minor cadence with a half-diminished ii chord. | Chord | Numeral | Notes | Pages | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bm7♭5 | iiø7 | B D F A | [Bm7♭5 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/bm7b5) · [Bm7♭5 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/bm7b5-drop-2) · [B Locrian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/b-locrian) | | E7 | V7 | E G♯ B D | [E7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/e7) · [E7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/e7-drop-2) · [E Phrygian dominant scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/e-phrygian-dominant) | | Am7 | i7 | A C E G | [Am7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/am7) · [Am7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/am7-drop-2) · [A minor scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/a-minor) | | Am7 | i7 | A C E G | [Am7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/am7) · [Am7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/am7-drop-2) · [A minor scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/a-minor) | ### Drop 2 voicings Four notes on four neighboring strings, the second voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 8 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7♭5 (iiø7)** Grip x-x-9-10-10-10 · frets 9–10 **E7♭9 (V7)** Grip x-x-9-10-9-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 5 ♭9 3 ♭7 **Am6 (i7)** Grip x-x-7-9-7-8 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 5 6 ♭3 **Am6 (i7)** Grip x-x-7-9-7-8 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 5 6 ♭3 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: D – D – C – C [Practice ii–V–I in A minor in drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-minor:9:drop2:4:jazz) ### Drop 3 voicings Four notes with a string skipped above the bass, the third voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 6 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7♭5 (iiø7)** Grip x-5-x-4-6-5 · frets 4–6 **E7♭9 (V7)** Grip x-5-x-4-6-4 · frets 4–6 Voiced: ♭7 5 ♭9 3 **Am6/9 (i7)** Grip 8-x-9-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭3 9 5 6 **Am6/9 (i7)** Grip 8-x-9-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭3 9 5 6 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: A – G♯ – F♯ – F♯ [Practice ii–V–I in A minor in drop 3 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-minor:9:drop3:4:jazz) ### Shell voicings Three notes: the root in the bass with the 3rd and 7th, the notes that name the chord. The voices move 18 semitones in all; the largest single step is 7. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7♭5 (iiø7)** Grip 7-8-x-7-x-x · frets 7–8 **E7 (V7)** Grip x-7-6-7-x-x · frets 6–7 **Am7 (i7)** Grip 5-x-5-5-x-x · fret 5 **Am7 (i7)** Grip 5-x-5-5-x-x · fret 5 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: D – D – C – C [Practice ii–V–I in A minor in shell voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-minor:9:shell:jazz) ### Rootless voicings Four notes without the root, with a 9th or 13th in its place: the bass player plays the root. The voices move 11 semitones in all; the largest single step is 5. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7♭5(11) (iiø7)** Grip x-5-3-x-5-5 · frets 3–5 Rootless: ♭3 ♭5 11 ♭7 **E7♭9 (V7)** Grip x-5-3-4-x-4 · frets 3–5 Rootless: ♭7 ♭9 5 3 **Am9 (i7)** Grip x-3-2-4-x-3 · frets 2–4 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 **Am6/9 (i7)** Grip x-3-2-4-x-2 · frets 2–4 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 6 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: A – G♯ – G – F♯ [Practice ii–V–I in A minor in rootless voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-minor:9:rootless:4:jazz) ### With the tritone substitute: Bm7♭5 – B♭7 – Am7 – Am7 Dominant a tritone away; preserves the 3rd/7th guide tones and often creates chromatic bass motion. In drop 2 voicings. The voices move 11 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7♭5 (iiø7)** Grip x-x-7-7-6-7 · frets 6–7 **B♭9 (tritone sub)** Grip x-x-6-7-6-8 · frets 6–8 Voiced: ♭7 3 5 9 **Am6/9 (i7)** Grip x-x-7-5-7-7 · frets 5–7 Voiced: 1 ♭3 6 9 **Am9 (i7)** Grip x-x-5-5-5-7 · frets 5–7 Voiced: ♭7 ♭3 5 9 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: B – C – B – B [Practice ii–V–I in A minor with the tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-minor:9:drop2:4:jazz:s-tritone) ## ii–V–I (minor) in every key - [ii–V–I in C minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-c-minor) - [ii–V–I in C♯ minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-c-sharp-minor) - [ii–V–I in D minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-d-minor) - [ii–V–I in E♭ minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-eb-minor) - [ii–V–I in E minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-e-minor) - [ii–V–I in F minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-f-minor) - [ii–V–I in F♯ minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-f-sharp-minor) - [ii–V–I in G minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-g-minor) - [ii–V–I in G♯ minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-g-sharp-minor) - ii–V–I in A minor - [ii–V–I in B♭ minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-bb-minor) - [ii–V–I in B minor](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-b-minor) ## Practice it in Practice Lab Comp ii–V–I in A minor in Practice Lab: voicings chosen to move smoothly, which voice moves where, and substitutions such as the tritone sub to hear what they change. Free, in your browser, no account. [Open it in Practice Lab](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-minor:9:drop2:4:jazz)