Okay, so hold on, there’s a minor version of ii – V – I? When I first heard this, my head was kind of spinning, too. The C major scale is obviously a good place to start, but it is important to think in terms of chord tones and how one chord connects to the next as well!

Even more so if you’re going to jam on it.

Since it is one of the most common jazz chord progressions out there, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to come up with some licks and soloing ideas over it.

Look for interesting ways to put your own spin on this progression (also see above).

If you’re going to jam with a friend who is a little more experienced at jazz, and suggest this chord progression to jam on, they’re probably going to throw something a little more interesting at you (likely because of how many times they find themselves playing it), like a ii – V – I – vi (or VI) progression.

Here are a couple more notes on this progression to help you master it: While we wouldn’t normally recommend such a daunting task to a beginner, if you’re looking to get into jazz, you need to get comfortable with your instrument playing chords in every key! Study Guide But depending on what tempo it’s being played at, as well as what chords it’s surrounded by, it can also sound a tad melancholy, kind of like on “Autumn Leaves.”Ī good thing to try is to play through the chord progression in every key. How does the chord progression sound? To me, it sounds breezy, as if you were taking a stroll along the seashore on a warm, sunny day. Just as there are scales and chords that represent a great place to start for beginner musicians, this chord progression is the best place to start for newcomers to jazz. This chord progression alone will grant you entry into the somewhat complex and deep world of jazz, which is the meeting place of virtuosic skill and a sophisticated approach to music theory. It gives you a solid foundation in jazz music, and it is even used frequently in other musical styles.

It is just that all-present and important.īefore we get too carried away with the nitty gritty of it, though, here’s an example of where you will have certainly heard this chord progression in action – jazz standard “Autumn Leaves.”Īs most jazz teachers will tell you, the ii – V – I progression is bar none the most important chord progression in jazz. If you’ve listened to jazz for any length of time, you will have heard this progression countless times. Best Jazz Chord Progressions, Final Thoughts.

Jazz piano chord charts