Mandolin · Level 5 · Intermediate

The major ii–V–I on Mandolin

ii7–V7–Imaj7 in all 12 keys.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

ii–V–I is the fundamental cadence of jazz. Learning it in every key builds the vocabulary you need for standards.

Choose a key

C majorDm7 · G7 · Cmaj7 · Cmaj7D♭ majorE♭m7 · A♭7 · D♭maj7 · D♭maj7D majorEm7 · A7 · Dmaj7 · Dmaj7E♭ majorFm7 · B♭7 · E♭maj7 · E♭maj7E majorF♯m7 · B7 · Emaj7 · Emaj7F majorGm7 · C7 · Fmaj7 · Fmaj7F♯ majorG♯m7 · C♯7 · F♯maj7 · F♯maj7G majorAm7 · D7 · Gmaj7 · Gmaj7A♭ majorB♭m7 · E♭7 · A♭maj7 · A♭maj7A majorBm7 · E7 · Amaj7 · Amaj7B♭ majorCm7 · F7 · B♭maj7 · B♭maj7B majorC♯m7 · F♯7 · Bmaj7 · Bmaj7

Listen first: C major

Dm7

D minor seventh

Notes: D · F · A · C

GDAE

G7

G dominant seventh

Notes: G · B · D · F

GDAE

Cmaj7

C major seventh

Notes: C · E · G · B

GDAE
1
Dm7
2
G7
3
Cmaj7
4
Cmaj7

Why it works

The seventh of each chord falls a half step to become the third of the next, a pattern called guide-tone voice leading.

On another instrument

The major ii–V–I on Guitar →The major ii–V–I on Piano →The major ii–V–I on Ukulele →The major ii–V–I on Banjo →The major ii–V–I on Violin →The major ii–V–I on Flute →

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