Guitar · progressions # ii–V–I in D on guitar ii–V–I in D: Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7 – Dmaj7. The core major-key cadence, voiced for smooth four-voice movement. | Chord | Numeral | Notes | Pages | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Em7 | ii7 | E G B D | [Em7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/em7) · [Em7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/em7-drop-2) · [E Dorian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/e-dorian) | | A7 | V7 | A C♯ E G | [A7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/a7) · [A7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/a7-drop-2) · [A Mixolydian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/a-mixolydian) | | Dmaj7 | Imaj7 | D F♯ A C♯ | [Dmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/dmaj7) · [Dmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/dmaj7-drop-2) · [D major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/d-major) | | Dmaj7 | Imaj7 | D F♯ A C♯ | [Dmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/dmaj7) · [Dmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/dmaj7-drop-2) · [D major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/d-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. **Em7(11) (ii7)** Grip x-7-7-7-8-x · frets 7–8 Voiced: 1 11 ♭7 ♭3 **A7 (V7)** Grip x-7-7-6-8-x · frets 6–8 **Dmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-5-7-6-7-x · frets 5–7 **Dmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-5-7-6-7-x · frets 5–7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: G – G – F♯ – F♯ [Practice ii–V–I in D in drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:2: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. **Em11 (ii7)** Grip x-10-x-11-10-10 · frets 10–11 Voiced: ♭3 9 11 ♭7 **A7 (V7)** Grip x-10-x-9-10-9 · frets 9–10 **Dmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-9-x-9-10-9 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 3 9 5 7 **Dmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-9-x-9-10-9 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 3 9 5 7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: D – C♯ – C♯ – C♯ [Practice ii–V–I in D in drop 3 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:2: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. **Em7 (ii7)** Grip x-7-5-7-x-x · frets 5–7 **A7 (V7)** Grip 5-x-5-6-x-x · frets 5–6 **Dmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-5-4-6-x-x · frets 4–6 **Dmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-5-4-6-x-x · frets 4–6 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: D – C♯ – C♯ – C♯ [Practice ii–V–I in D in shell voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:2: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. **Em9 (ii7)** Grip x-10-9-11-x-10 · frets 9–11 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 **A13 (V7)** Grip x-10-9-11-x-9 · frets 9–11 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3 **Dmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-9-x-9-10-9 · frets 9–10 Rootless: 3 9 5 7 **Dmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-9-x-9-10-9 · frets 9–10 Rootless: 3 9 5 7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: D – C♯ – C♯ – C♯ [Practice ii–V–I in D in rootless voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:2:rootless:4:jazz) ### With the tritone substitute: Em7 – E♭7 – Dmaj7 – Dmaj7 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. **Em7 (ii7)** Grip x-x-12-12-12-12 · fret 12 **E♭7 (tritone sub)** Grip x-x-11-12-11-11 · frets 11–12 **Dmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-11-11-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: 7 3 5 9 **D6/9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-12-11-12-12 · frets 11–12 Voiced: 1 3 6 9 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: E – E♭ – E – E [Practice ii–V–I in D with the tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:2: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 - [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 D 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:2:drop2:4:jazz)