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Progression · Jazz

ii–V–I Progression

The single most common chord movement in jazz — the sound of a phrase arriving home.

The Progression

IiiV

Why It Works

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Questions about the ii–V–I progression

Why is ii-V-I so important in jazz?

It's the fundamental cadence jazz is built on — the way a phrase creates tension and resolves. Thousands of standards are essentially chains of ii-V-I movements in different keys, so learning to hear and play it unlocks a huge amount of the repertoire.

What key is this ii-V-I in?

C major. Dm7 is the ii chord, G7 is the V, and Cmaj7 is the I (the tonic, or home). Move all three chords up or down by the same amount and you get the same progression in a different key.

Why do the chords use 7ths instead of plain triads?

The added 7th on each chord is what makes it sound like jazz rather than a folk or pop cadence. The 7ths create gentle dissonances that lean into each other as the bass descends, giving the movement its characteristic richness and forward pull.

Related progressions & chords

I–vi–ii–VJazzI–V–vi–IVPop Dm7ChordG7ChordCmaj7Chord