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Jazz chord progressions

Jazz runs on the ii–V–I: three chords whose roots fall a fifth each time. The others here are simpler loops that sound jazzy once every chord gets its seventh, which is how the lo-fi beat plays them.

ii–V–I

The two-five-one · 2-5-1

C major
  1. Dm
  2. G
  3. C
  4. C

Smooth and settled. Each root falls a fifth to the next, so the ear hears V coming and I arriving. With sevenths on every chord it is the sound of jazz.

Used in jazz, lo-fi, R&B, neo-soul and gospel.

Use in a beat
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys
In all 12 keys

IV–I–ii–I

The R&B turn · 4-1-2-1

C major
  1. F
  2. C
  3. Dm
  4. C

Warm and rocking. It starts away from home on IV, comes back, steps up to the minor ii and back again: soft, never dramatic.

Used in pluggnb, R&B and gospel.

Use in a beat
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys
In all 12 keys

I–IV–I–V

The blues in four bars · 1-4-1-5

C major
  1. C
  2. F
  3. C
  4. G

Earthy and plain: home, the IV, home again and the V to turn it round. It is the 12-bar blues folded into four bars.

Used in blues, rock and roll and southern soul.

Use in a beat
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys
In all 12 keys

I–vi–IV–V

The 50s progression · 1-6-4-5

C major
  1. C
  2. Am
  3. F
  4. G

Sweet and a little nostalgic. The minor vi comes second, and the V at the end pulls back to I, so every loop lands home.

Used in doo-wop, soul, oldies and indie.

Use in a beat
Lo-fi beat · 80 BPM · drums, bass and keys
In all 12 keys

In every key

One chord a bar; a chord held for two bars is written once.

KeyChords
C major
  • ii–V–IDm – G – C
  • IV–I–ii–IF – C – Dm – C
  • I–IV–I–VC – F – C – G
  • I–vi–IV–VC – Am – F – G
D♭ major
  • ii–V–IE♭m – A♭ – D♭
  • IV–I–ii–IG♭ – D♭ – E♭m – D♭
  • I–IV–I–VD♭ – G♭ – D♭ – A♭
  • I–vi–IV–VD♭ – B♭m – G♭ – A♭
D major
  • ii–V–IEm – A – D
  • IV–I–ii–IG – D – Em – D
  • I–IV–I–VD – G – D – A
  • I–vi–IV–VD – Bm – G – A
E♭ major
  • ii–V–IFm – B♭ – E♭
  • IV–I–ii–IA♭ – E♭ – Fm – E♭
  • I–IV–I–VE♭ – A♭ – E♭ – B♭
  • I–vi–IV–VE♭ – Cm – A♭ – B♭
E major
  • ii–V–IF♯m – B – E
  • IV–I–ii–IA – E – F♯m – E
  • I–IV–I–VE – A – E – B
  • I–vi–IV–VE – C♯m – A – B
F major
  • ii–V–IGm – C – F
  • IV–I–ii–IB♭ – F – Gm – F
  • I–IV–I–VF – B♭ – F – C
  • I–vi–IV–VF – Dm – B♭ – C
F♯ major
  • ii–V–IG♯m – C♯ – F♯
  • IV–I–ii–IB – F♯ – G♯m – F♯
  • I–IV–I–VF♯ – B – F♯ – C♯
  • I–vi–IV–VF♯ – D♯m – B – C♯
G major
  • ii–V–IAm – D – G
  • IV–I–ii–IC – G – Am – G
  • I–IV–I–VG – C – G – D
  • I–vi–IV–VG – Em – C – D
A♭ major
  • ii–V–IB♭m – E♭ – A♭
  • IV–I–ii–ID♭ – A♭ – B♭m – A♭
  • I–IV–I–VA♭ – D♭ – A♭ – E♭
  • I–vi–IV–VA♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭
A major
  • ii–V–IBm – E – A
  • IV–I–ii–ID – A – Bm – A
  • I–IV–I–VA – D – A – E
  • I–vi–IV–VA – F♯m – D – E
B♭ major
  • ii–V–ICm – F – B♭
  • IV–I–ii–IE♭ – B♭ – Cm – B♭
  • I–IV–I–VB♭ – E♭ – B♭ – F
  • I–vi–IV–VB♭ – Gm – E♭ – F
B major
  • ii–V–IC♯m – F♯ – B
  • IV–I–ii–IE – B – C♯m – B
  • I–IV–I–VB – E – B – F♯
  • I–vi–IV–VB – G♯m – E – F♯

More progressions

Or pick a mood and a key in the chord progression generator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common jazz chord progression?

The ii–V–I: Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7 in C major. Jazz standards string them together through different keys, and a turnaround (I–vi–ii–V) leads back to the top.

Do these progressions work in any key?

Yes. The Roman numerals say which notes of the key each chord is built on, so the same progression works in all 12 keys. The table above has every one, with the chords named.

How do I make a song with one?

Press Use in a beat. The free editor opens with a four-bar beat on those chords: drums, bass and the chords, each its own part. Change a chord, add a melody, record over it or ask for new drums, one part at a time. No account is needed to start; a free account saves your project.

Build a song on these chords

Use in a beat opens the free editor with drums, bass and the chords. Add a melody, record over it or change any part, one at a time.

Use ii–V–I in a beatAll chord progressions

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