Guitar · Level 6 · Intermediate
The minor ii–V–i in B minor on Guitar
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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.
C♯m7b5
Notes: C♯ · E · G · B
F♯7b9
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E · G
Bm
Notes: B · D · F♯
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: C♯m7b5, F♯7b9 and Bm. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Press just behind the fret with your fingertips and keep the thumb relaxed behind the neck.
- 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.
- Strum down on every beat at first, then try down–down–up–up–down–up.
- 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.
B minor has 2 sharps; its relative major key is D major.
Questions
What are the chords in iiø7–V7♭9–i in B minor?
In B minor the progression is C♯m7b5 | F♯7b9 | Bm | Bm.
What is the key signature of B minor?
B minor has 2 sharps. Its relative major is D 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.
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