Chord Progression Trainer

Practice common chord progressions with accurate scale recommendations, target notes, and voice-leading guidance. Each progression includes practical hints for guitar improvisation.

ii-V-I Major
beginnerJazz Standard
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.
Dm7G7Cmaj7
+
ii-V-I Minor
intermediateJazz Standard
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.
Dm7b5G7altCm
+
Modal Dorian Vamp
beginnerModal
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.
Dm7
+
Modal Mixolydian Vamp
beginnerModal
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.
G7
+
Minor Blues Feel (i-iv-V-i)
intermediateBlues
A fundamental minor blues/rock progression. The iv chord adds weight and the V chord creates tension that resolves back to the tonic minor.
Am7Dm7E7Am7
+
I-vi-ii-V Turnaround
intermediateFunctional
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.
Cmaj7Am7Dm7G7
+
Static Lydian Vamp
intermediateModal
A sustained maj7#11 chord. the quintessential modern jazz sound. Floating, dreamy, and open. Think Pat Metheny, film scores, and contemporary jazz.
Cmaj7#11
+
Dominant Chain
advancedFunctional
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.
D7G7C7F7
+
Backdoor Dominant (bVII7 to Imaj7)
intermediateFunctional
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.
Bb7Cmaj7
+
Altered Dominant to Minor (V7alt to im)
intermediateJazz Standard
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.
G7altCm
+
Half-Diminished to Altered (Minor ii-V)
advancedJazz Standard
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.
Dm7b5G7alt
+
Phrygian Dominant Cadence (V7b9 to im)
intermediateFunctional
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.
E7(b9)Am
+
Fusion Vamp (Em7 to A7#11)
intermediateModal
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.
Em7A7#11
+
Static Minor Groove (Cm7 for 8 bars)
beginnerModal
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?
Cm7
+
Coltrane Changes Fragment (Major Third Cycle)
advancedJazz Standard
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.
Cmaj7Eb7Abmaj7
+

Explore further

Play Along

Send any progression into the play-along trainer and improvise over it.

Chord-Scale Explorer

Find which scales fit each chord in your progression.

Circle of Fifths

See the harmonic geometry behind why progressions resolve.

Jazz Theory

Apply progressions to jazz standards and improvisation.

Common questions

What is a ii-V-I progression?
The most common chord movement in jazz: a minor 7th chord (ii) resolving to a dominant 7th (V) resolving to a major or minor 7th (I). In C major it's Dm7, G7, Cmaj7. The V's tritone (B and F in G7) wants to resolve to the I's third and root, creating strong forward motion. Most jazz standards are built mostly of ii-V-I's in different keys.
What are the most common chord progressions in jazz?
ii-V-I (Dm7, G7, Cmaj7), the 12-bar blues (I-IV-V variants), rhythm changes (the I-Got-Rhythm form), Coltrane changes (descending major thirds), and the Andalusian cadence (i-VII-VI-V in minor). Knowing these four or five forms gives you the vocabulary to play hundreds of standards.
How do I make my own chord progressions?
Start in a single key with diatonic chords (the chords built from one scale). Try ascending fourths (Cmaj7 to Fmaj7), descending fifths (G7 to Cmaj7), or contrast major and minor relative chords (Cmaj7 to Am7). Once that's comfortable, add secondary dominants (a V7 that resolves to any chord) for harmonic motion outside the key.