Guitar · progressions # ii–V–I in A♭ on guitar ii–V–I in A♭: B♭m7 – E♭7 – A♭maj7 – A♭maj7. The core major-key cadence, voiced for smooth four-voice movement. | Chord | Numeral | Notes | Pages | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | B♭m7 | ii7 | B♭ D♭ F A♭ | [B♭m7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/bbm7) · [B♭m7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/bbm7-drop-2) · [B♭ Dorian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/bb-dorian) | | E♭7 | V7 | E♭ G B♭ D♭ | [E♭7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/eb7) · [E♭7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/eb7-drop-2) · [E♭ Mixolydian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/eb-mixolydian) | | A♭maj7 | Imaj7 | A♭ C E♭ G | [A♭maj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/abmaj7) · [A♭maj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/abmaj7-drop-2) · [A♭ major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/ab-major) | | A♭maj7 | Imaj7 | A♭ C E♭ G | [A♭maj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/abmaj7) · [A♭maj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/abmaj7-drop-2) · [A♭ major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/ab-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. **B♭m7(11) (ii7)** Grip x-x-8-8-9-9 · frets 8–9 Voiced: 1 11 ♭7 ♭3 **E♭7 (V7)** Grip x-x-8-8-8-9 · frets 8–9 **A♭maj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-6-8-8-8 · frets 6–8 **A♭6 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-6-8-6-8 · frets 6–8 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:8: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. **B♭m7(11) (ii7)** Grip 9-x-8-8-9-x · frets 8–9 Voiced: ♭3 1 11 ♭7 **E♭7 (V7)** Grip 9-x-8-8-8-x · frets 8–9 **A♭maj9 (Imaj7)** Grip 8-x-8-8-8-x · fret 8 Voiced: 3 9 5 7 **A♭maj9 (Imaj7)** Grip 8-x-8-8-8-x · fret 8 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:8: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. **B♭m7 (ii7)** Grip 6-x-6-6-x-x · fret 6 **E♭7 (V7)** Grip x-6-5-6-x-x · frets 5–6 **A♭maj7 (Imaj7)** Grip 4-x-5-5-x-x · frets 4–5 **A♭maj7 (Imaj7)** Grip 4-x-5-5-x-x · frets 4–5 *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:8: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. **B♭m9 (ii7)** Grip x-4-3-5-x-4 · frets 3–5 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 **E♭13 (V7)** Grip x-4-3-5-x-3 · frets 3–5 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3 **A♭maj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-3-x-3-4-3 · frets 3–4 Rootless: 3 9 5 7 **A♭maj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-3-x-3-4-3 · frets 3–4 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:8:rootless:4:jazz) ### With the tritone substitute: B♭m7 – A7 – A♭maj7 – A♭maj7 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. **B♭m7 (ii7)** Grip x-x-6-6-6-6 · fret 6 **A7 (tritone sub)** Grip x-x-5-6-5-5 · frets 5–6 **A♭maj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-5-5-4-6 · frets 4–6 Voiced: 7 3 5 9 **A♭6/9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-6-5-6-6 · frets 5–6 Voiced: 1 3 6 9 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: B♭ – A – B♭ – B♭ [Practice ii–V–I in A♭ with the tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:8: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♭ - [ii–V–I in A](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/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:8:drop2:4:jazz)