Chord Progression Trainer

The most fundamental jazz progression. Three chords from one major key that define tonal jazz harmony. Master this and you can navigate 80% of jazz standards.

The minor-key equivalent of the ii-V-I. Uses melodic minor-derived scales for a darker, more tense sound. Essential for minor jazz standards.

A static minor 7th chord for modal exploration. The setting for some of the most iconic jazz performances. So What, Impressions, and countless funk grooves.

A static dominant 7th chord. the sound of blues, funk, and rock jams. Mixolydian is your foundation; Lydian Dominant and blues scale are your spices.

A fundamental minor blues/rock progression. The iv chord adds weight and the V chord creates tension that resolves back to the tonic minor.

The classic jazz and pop turnaround. Found in countless standards from 'I Got Rhythm' changes to doo-wop progressions. All four chords are diatonic to one major key.

A sustained maj7#11 chord. the quintessential modern jazz sound. Floating, dreamy, and open. Think Pat Metheny, film scores, and contemporary jazz.

A sequence of dominant 7th chords moving in fourths. Each chord acts as a V7 resolving to the next. Tests your ability to navigate rapid chord changes with consistent dominant vocabulary.

The 'backdoor' resolution: a dominant 7th chord a whole step below the tonic resolves upward to a major 7th chord. Found in standards like 'Lady Bird' and countless pop songs. The bVII7 chord sneaks into the tonic from the 'back door' rather than the standard V7 approach.

A dominant 7th chord with all altered tensions resolving to a minor tonic. This is the V-i cadence in minor keys at its most tense and dramatic. The Altered scale provides maximum chromatic pull into the minor chord.

The minor ii-V without the resolution. just the tension-building half. Dm7b5 to G7alt is the most harmonically dense two-chord combination in jazz. Mastering this unlocks all minor-key playing.

The classic 'Spanish' or 'harmonic minor' cadence: a dominant chord with a b9 resolving to a minor tonic. This is V-i using Phrygian Dominant. darker and more dramatic than the Altered approach, with an unmistakable Middle Eastern/flamenco flavor.

A two-chord modal vamp that oscillates between a minor 7th chord and a Lydian Dominant chord. The Em7 provides a grounded modal center while the A7#11 adds lift and color. A staple of fusion and modern jazz guitar.

Eight bars of a single minor 7th chord. a pure Dorian playground. No changes, no distractions. This is where you develop your voice as a modal improviser. The challenge is entirely musical: can you create compelling phrases over one chord for 8 bars?

A simplified fragment of John Coltrane's signature chord movement: major 7th chords moving in major thirds, connected by dominant 7th chords. This Cmaj7-Eb7-Abmaj7 cycle divides the octave into three equal parts, creating a symmetrical, kaleidoscopic harmonic journey.