Guitar · progressions # ii–V–I in A on guitar ii–V–I in A: Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7 – Amaj7. The core major-key cadence, voiced for smooth four-voice movement. | Chord | Numeral | Notes | Pages | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bm7 | ii7 | B D F♯ A | [Bm7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/bm7) · [Bm7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/bm7-drop-2) · [B Dorian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/b-dorian) | | 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 Mixolydian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/e-mixolydian) | | Amaj7 | Imaj7 | A C♯ E G♯ | [Amaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/amaj7) · [Amaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/amaj7-drop-2) · [A major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/a-major) | | Amaj7 | Imaj7 | A C♯ E G♯ | [Amaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/amaj7) · [Amaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/amaj7-drop-2) · [A major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/a-major) | ### Drop 2 voicings Four notes on four neighboring strings, the second 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(11) (ii7)** Grip x-x-9-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 1 11 ♭7 ♭3 **E7 (V7)** Grip x-x-9-9-9-10 · frets 9–10 **Amaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-7-9-9-9 · frets 7–9 **A6 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-7-9-7-9 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 5 6 3 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: D – D – C♯ – C♯ [Practice ii–V–I in A in drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major: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 2 semitones in all; the largest single step is 1. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7(11) (ii7)** Grip 10-x-9-9-10-x · frets 9–10 Voiced: ♭3 1 11 ♭7 **E7 (V7)** Grip 10-x-9-9-9-x · frets 9–10 **Amaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip 9-x-9-9-9-x · fret 9 Voiced: 3 9 5 7 **Amaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip 9-x-9-9-9-x · fret 9 Voiced: 3 9 5 7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: A – G♯ – G♯ – G♯ [Practice ii–V–I in A in drop 3 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major: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 14 semitones in all; the largest single step is 7. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7 (ii7)** Grip 7-x-7-7-x-x · fret 7 **E7 (V7)** Grip x-7-6-7-x-x · frets 6–7 **Amaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip 5-x-6-6-x-x · frets 5–6 **Amaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip 5-x-6-6-x-x · frets 5–6 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: D – D – C♯ – C♯ [Practice ii–V–I in A in shell voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major: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 10 semitones in all; the largest single step is 5. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm9 (ii7)** Grip x-5-4-6-x-5 · frets 4–6 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 **E13 (V7)** Grip x-5-4-6-x-4 · frets 4–6 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3 **Amaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-4-x-4-5-4 · frets 4–5 Rootless: 3 9 5 7 **Amaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-4-x-4-5-4 · frets 4–5 Rootless: 3 9 5 7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: A – G♯ – G♯ – G♯ [Practice ii–V–I in A in rootless voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:9:rootless:4:jazz) ### With the tritone substitute: Bm7 – B♭7 – Amaj7 – Amaj7 Dominant a tritone away; preserves the 3rd/7th guide tones and often creates chromatic bass motion. In drop 2 voicings. The voices move 9 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Bm7 (ii7)** Grip x-x-7-7-7-7 · fret 7 **B♭7 (tritone sub)** Grip x-x-6-7-6-6 · frets 6–7 **Amaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-6-6-5-7 · frets 5–7 Voiced: 7 3 5 9 **A6/9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-7-6-7-7 · frets 6–7 Voiced: 1 3 6 9 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: B – B♭ – B – B [Practice ii–V–I in A with the tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:9:drop2:4:jazz:s-tritone) ## Try a substitution The same progression with a substitution the app offers, voice-led the same way, with the chords in every key. - [Tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/tritone) - [Tritone sub with its related ii](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/tritone-related-ii) - [Backdoor ii–V](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/backdoor) - [Minor iv](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/minor-iv) ## ii–V–I (major) in every key - [ii–V–I in C](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-c) - [ii–V–I in D♭](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-db) - [ii–V–I in D](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-d) - [ii–V–I in E♭](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-eb) - [ii–V–I in E](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-e) - [ii–V–I in F](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-f) - [ii–V–I in F♯](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-f-sharp) - [ii–V–I in G](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-g) - [ii–V–I in A♭](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-ab) - ii–V–I in A - [ii–V–I in B♭](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-bb) - [ii–V–I in B](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-b) ## Practice it in Practice Lab Comp ii–V–I in A 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-major:9:drop2:4:jazz)