Guitar · progressions # ii–V–I in C on guitar ii–V–I in C: Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7. The core major-key cadence, voiced for smooth four-voice movement. | Chord | Numeral | Notes | Pages | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Dm7 | ii7 | D F A C | [Dm7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/dm7) · [Dm7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/dm7-drop-2) · [D Dorian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/d-dorian) | | G7 | V7 | G B D F | [G7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/g7) · [G7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/g7-drop-2) · [G Mixolydian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/g-mixolydian) | | Cmaj7 | Imaj7 | C E G B | [Cmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/cmaj7) · [Cmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/cmaj7-drop-2) · [C major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/c-major) | | Cmaj7 | Imaj7 | C E G B | [Cmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/cmaj7) · [Cmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/cmaj7-drop-2) · [C major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/c-major) | ### Drop 2 voicings Four notes on four neighboring strings, the second voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 4 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Dm7(11) (ii7)** Grip x-5-5-5-6-x · frets 5–6 Voiced: 1 11 ♭7 ♭3 **G7 (V7)** Grip x-5-5-4-6-x · frets 4–6 **Cmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-3-5-4-5-x · frets 3–5 **Cmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-3-5-4-5-x · frets 3–5 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: F – F – E – E [Practice ii–V–I in C in drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:0: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 4 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Dm11 (ii7)** Grip x-8-x-9-8-8 · frets 8–9 Voiced: ♭3 9 11 ♭7 **G7 (V7)** Grip x-8-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 **Cmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Voiced: 3 9 5 7 **Cmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Voiced: 3 9 5 7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: C – B – B – B [Practice ii–V–I in C in drop 3 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:0: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. **Dm7 (ii7)** Grip x-5-3-5-x-x · frets 3–5 **G7 (V7)** Grip 3-x-3-4-x-x · frets 3–4 **Cmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-3-2-4-x-x · frets 2–4 **Cmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-3-2-4-x-x · frets 2–4 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: C – B – B – B [Practice ii–V–I in C in shell voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:0: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. **Dm9 (ii7)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 **G13 (V7)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-7 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3 **Cmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 9 5 7 **Cmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 9 5 7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: C – B – B – B [Practice ii–V–I in C in rootless voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:0:rootless:4:jazz) ### With the tritone substitute: Dm7 – D♭7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7 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. **Dm7 (ii7)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-10 · fret 10 **D♭7 (tritone sub)** Grip x-x-9-10-9-9 · frets 9–10 **Cmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-9-9-8-10 · frets 8–10 Voiced: 7 3 5 9 **C6/9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-10-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 1 3 6 9 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: D – D♭ – D – D [Practice ii–V–I in C with the tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:0: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) ## Hear it in a tune Tunes with this ii–V–I in their changes, comped through the whole form. - [All of Me](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/tunes/all-of-me) (bar 15) - [Take the A Train](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/tunes/take-the-a-train) (bar 5) ## ii–V–I (major) in every key - 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](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 C 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:0:drop2:4:jazz)