Banjo · Level 6 · Intermediate
The minor ii–V–i in A minor on Banjo
Don’t just read about The minor ii–V–i in A minor. Play it.
Create a free TempoJam account in 30 seconds. Then try the tuner, metronome and Jam Room free for 14 days and record your first take tonight.
The minor ii–V–i uses a half-diminished ii and an altered V. It is the dark, dramatic cadence behind many jazz ballads and Latin tunes.
Bm7b5
Notes: B · D · F · A
E7b9
Notes: E · G♯ · B · D · F
Am
Notes: A · C · E
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Bm7b5, E7b9 and Am. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- The short fifth string (g) is only played open; let it ring when it fits the chord.
- Set the tempo to 63 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Find the note that moves by a half step from V7♭9 to i.
- Pinch the bass and top strings on beat one, then roll thumb–index–middle through the other strings.
- Raise the tempo to 84 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for tension in the ♭9 that melts into the minor tonic.
Listen for
Aim for tension in the ♭9 that melts into the minor tonic. A common mistake is using a plain minor seventh for iiø7.
Why it works
iiø7 and V7♭9 both come from the harmonic minor scale, which provides the raised leading tone.
A minor has no sharps or flats; its relative major key is C major.
Questions
What are the chords in iiø7–V7♭9–i in A minor?
In A minor the progression is Bm7b5 | E7b9 | Am | Am.
What is the key signature of A minor?
A minor has no sharps or flats. Its relative major is C major.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 6 lesson (intermediate). If it feels too hard, start with “Augmented chords”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
Start practising free