Mandolin · Level 5 · Intermediate
The major ii–V–I in G major on Mandolin
Don’t just read about The major ii–V–I in G major. Play it.
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ii–V–I is the fundamental cadence of jazz. Learning it in every key builds the vocabulary you need for standards.
Am7
Notes: A · C · E · G
D7
Notes: D · F♯ · A · C
Gmaj7
Notes: G · B · D · F♯
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Am7, D7 and Gmaj7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Mandolin frets are close together, so reach with the fingertips and press each pair of strings evenly.
- Set the tempo to 60 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Notice which notes stay and which move by one step between chords.
- Strum down on every beat, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- Raise the tempo to 80 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the smooth voice leading from ii7 into V7 and the release on Imaj7.
Listen for
Aim for the smooth voice leading from ii7 into V7 and the release on Imaj7. A common mistake is jumping to a distant shape instead of the nearest voicing.
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.
G major has 1 sharp; its relative minor key is E minor.
Questions
What are the chords in ii7–V7–Imaj7 in G major?
In G major the progression is Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Gmaj7.
What is the key signature of G major?
G major has 1 sharp. Its relative minor is E minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 5 lesson (intermediate). If it feels too hard, start with “Minor seventh 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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