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Chord Progression
IImin7 - V7 - Imaj7
of the major scale

Description

In the key of
C | Db | D | Eb | E | F | F# - Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B


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The IIm7 - V7 - Imaj7 Chord Progression of the Major scale

Below are the first (Imaj7), second (IImin7) and fifth (V7) scale-tone chords of the major scale.

Audio 1
I chord, II chord and V chord of the C major scale

Placed in Circle of Fifths order they form the tail end of the scale-tone chord progression of the major scale.

Audio 2
IIm7_V7-IM7 progression of the C major scale

This simple chord segment and the parts thereof (IIm7-V7 and V7-I) are by far the most common chord segments used in Western music, Classical, Jazz, and Popular.

Improvisation practice over this segment in all keys is therefore the bread and butter of every aspiring Jazz improviser.
Below a typical practice routine, where you play
  • the Dorian mode over the IIm7 chord

  • the Mixolydian mode over the V7 chord, and

  • the major scale over the Imaj7 chord.
Audio 3
IIm7-V7-IM7 and corresponding modes

The D Dorian and G Mixolydian modes are both derived from the C major scale. The same seven notes are therefore used for the entire II-V-I segment.

(The mode, and as a result, the perceived tonality changes from one chord to the next.
Even if you do not consciously think of different modes, the underlying chords will produce the associated mode sound and your ear will select the notes accordingly.)



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The IIm7-V7-Imaj7 chord progression and corresponding modes in all 12 keys are listed below in Circle of Fifths order. Chord tones are shown in bold.

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1. Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7     D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D

G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G

C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C
= D Dorian mode

= G Mixolydian mode

= C major scale


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2. Am7 - D7 - Gmaj7     A   B   C   D   E   F#   G   A

D   E   F#   G   A   B   C   D

G   A   B   C   D   E   F#   G
= A Dorian mode

= D Mixolydian mode

= G major scale


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3. Em7 - A7 - Dmaj7     E   F#   G   A   B   C#   D   E

A   B   C#   D   E   F#   G   A

D   E   F#   G   A   B   C#   D
= E Dorian mode

= A Mixolydian mode

= D major scale


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4. Bm7 - E7 - Amaj7     B   C#   D   E   F#   G#   A   B

E   F#   G#   A   B   C#   D   E

A   B   C#   D   E   F#   G#   A
= B Dorian mode

= E Mixolydian mode

= A major scale


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5. F#m7 - B7 - Emaj7     F#   G#   A   B   C#   D#   E   F#

B   C#   D#   E   F#   G#   A   B

E   F#   G#   A   B   C#   D#   E
= F# Dorian mode

= B Mixolydian mode

= E major scale


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6. C#m7 - F#7 - Bmaj7     C#   D#   E   F#   G#   A#   B   C#

F#   G#   A#   B   C#   D#   E   F#

B   C#   D#   E   F#   G#   A#   B
= C# Dorian mode

= F# Mixolydian mode

= B major scale


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7. G#m7 - C#7 - F#maj7     G#   A#   B   C#   D#   E# (=F)   F#   G#

C#   D#   E# (=F)   F#   G#   A#   B   C#

F#   G#   A#   B   C#   D#   E# (=F)   F#
= G# Dorian mode

= C# Mixolydian mode

= F# major scale



7a. Abm7 - Db7 - Gbmaj7    



Ab   Bb   Cb (=B)   Db   Eb   F   Gb   Ab

Db   Eb   F   Gb   Ab   Bb   Cb (=B)   Db

Gb   Ab   Bb   Cb (=B)   Db   Eb   F   Gb



= Ab Dorian mode

= Db Mixolydian mode

= Gb major scale


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8. Ebm7 - Ab7 - Dbmaj7     Eb   F   Gb   Ab   Bb   C   Db   Eb

Ab   Bb   C   Db   Eb   F   Gb   Ab

Db   Eb   F   Gb   Ab   Bb   C   Db
= Eb Dorian mode

= Ab Mixolydian mode

= Db major scale


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9. Bbm7 - Eb7 - Abmaj7     Bb   C   Db   Eb   F   G   Ab   Bb

Eb   F   G   Ab   Bb   C   Db   Eb

Ab   Bb   C   Db   Eb   F   G   Ab



= Bb Dorian mode

= Eb Mixolydian mode

= Ab major scale


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10. Fm7 - Bb7 - Ebmaj7     F   G   Ab   Bb   C   D   Eb   F

Bb   C   D   Eb   F   G   Ab   Bb

Eb   F   G   Ab   Bb   C   D   Eb
= F Dorian mode

= Bb Mixolydian mode

= Eb major scale


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11. Cm7 - F7 - Bbmaj7     C   D   Eb   F   G   A   Bb   C

F   G   A   Bb   C   D   Eb   F

Bb   C   D   Eb   F   G   A   Bb
= C Dorian mode

= F Mixolydian mode

= Bb major scale


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12. Gm7 - C7 - Fmaj7     G   A   Bb   C   D   E   F   G

C   D   E   F   G   A   Bb   C

F   G   A   Bb   C   D   E   F
= G Dorian mode

= C Mixolydian mode

= F major scale



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Copyright © 2005 Michael Furstner. All rights reserved.