Guitar · progressions # ii–V–I in G on guitar ii–V–I in G: Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7 – Gmaj7. The core major-key cadence, voiced for smooth four-voice movement. | Chord | Numeral | Notes | Pages | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Am7 | ii7 | 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 Dorian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/a-dorian) | | D7 | V7 | D F♯ A C | [D7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/d7) · [D7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/d7-drop-2) · [D Mixolydian scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/d-mixolydian) | | Gmaj7 | Imaj7 | G B D F♯ | [Gmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/gmaj7) · [Gmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/gmaj7-drop-2) · [G major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/g-major) | | Gmaj7 | Imaj7 | G B D F♯ | [Gmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/gmaj7) · [Gmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/gmaj7-drop-2) · [G major scale](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/scales/g-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. **Am7(11) (ii7)** Grip x-x-7-7-8-8 · frets 7–8 Voiced: 1 11 ♭7 ♭3 **D7 (V7)** Grip x-x-7-7-7-8 · frets 7–8 **Gmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-5-7-7-7 · frets 5–7 **G6 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-5-7-5-7 · frets 5–7 Voiced: 1 5 6 3 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: C – C – B – B [Practice ii–V–I in G in drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:7: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. **Am7(11) (ii7)** Grip 8-x-7-7-8-x · frets 7–8 Voiced: ♭3 1 11 ♭7 **D7 (V7)** Grip 8-x-7-7-7-x · frets 7–8 **Gmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip 7-x-5-7-7-x · frets 5–7 **Gmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip 7-x-5-7-7-x · frets 5–7 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: G – F♯ – F♯ – F♯ [Practice ii–V–I in G in drop 3 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:7: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. **Am7 (ii7)** Grip x-12-10-12-x-x · frets 10–12 **D7 (V7)** Grip 10-x-10-11-x-x · frets 10–11 **Gmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-10-9-11-x-x · frets 9–11 **Gmaj7 (Imaj7)** Grip x-10-9-11-x-x · frets 9–11 *Bar 4: the same chord held* Top line: G – F♯ – F♯ – F♯ [Practice ii–V–I in G in shell voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:7: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 8 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color. **Am9 (ii7)** Grip x-x-10-12-12-12 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭3 ♭7 9 5 **D9 (V7)** Grip x-x-10-11-10-12 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭7 3 5 9 **Gmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-9-11-10-10 · frets 9–11 Rootless: 3 7 9 5 **G6/9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-9-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Rootless: 3 6 9 5 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: E – E – D – D [Practice ii–V–I in G in rootless voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:7:rootless:4:jazz) ### With the tritone substitute: Am7 – A♭7 – Gmaj7 – Gmaj7 Dominant a tritone away; preserves the 3rd/7th guide tones and often creates chromatic bass motion. In drop 2 voicings. 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. **Am7(11) (ii7)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-10 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭3 ♭7 1 11 **A♭7 (tritone sub)** Grip x-x-10-11-9-11 · frets 9–11 **Gmaj9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-9-11-10-10 · frets 9–11 Voiced: 3 7 9 5 **G6/9 (Imaj7)** Grip x-x-9-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 3 6 9 5 *Bar 4: the same chord held, another voicing* Top line: D – E♭ – D – D [Practice ii–V–I in G with the tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=ii-v-i-major:7: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. - [Giant Steps](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/tunes/giant-steps) (bar 4) ## 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 - [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 G 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:7:drop2:4:jazz)