Mandolin · Level 6 · Intermediate
The minor ii–V–i in C minor on Mandolin
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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.
Dm7b5
Notes: D · F · A♭ · C
G7b9
Notes: G · B · D · F · A♭
Cm
Notes: C · E♭ · G
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Dm7b5, G7b9 and Cm. 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 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, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- 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.
C minor has 3 flats; its relative major key is E♭ major.
Questions
What are the chords in iiø7–V7♭9–i in C minor?
In C minor the progression is Dm7b5 | G7b9 | Cm | Cm.
What is the key signature of C minor?
C minor has 3 flats. Its relative major is E♭ 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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