The ii–V–I progression is the foundation of jazz harmony and one of the most important chord sequences every guitarist must master. Found in countless standards, it creates the essential tension and resolution that defines the jazz sound.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play jazz guitar chord voicings over a ii–V–I progression through five practical exercises, helping you move efficiently across the fretboard while developing a more authentic jazz comping sound.
Exercise 1
Bar 1: Fmaj9 (1, 3, 7, 9) diatonic substitute for Dm7.
Bar 2 : Diminished 7 substitute for G7 (1, b5 , bb7, b3).
Bar 3 : Second inversion of Cmaj7 (drop2) (3, 7, 1, 5).
Exercise 2
Bar 1 : Drop 2 Dm7 inversion, fifth in the bass (5, 1, b3, b7).
Bar 2 : Diminished 7 substitutes for G7 (1, b5, bb7, b3).
Bar 3 : Drop 2 Cmaj7 (1, 5, 7, 3) and its second inversion (3, 7, 1, 5).
Exercise 3
Bar 1 : Rootless Dm11 third in the bass (b3, b7, b3, 11).
Bar 2 : G7#5 (7, 3, #5, 1).
Bar 3 : Rootless Cmaj7 (5, 7, 3, 5).
Exercise 4
Bar 1 : Drop 2 Dm7 inversion, fifth in the bass (5, 1, b3, b7).
Bar 2 : Two diminished 7 substitutes for G7 (1, b5, bb7, b3).
Bar 3 : Drop 2 Cmaj7 inversion (3, b7, 1, 5).
Exercise 5
Bar 1 : Dm9 & Dm7add13.
Bar 2 : Two diminished 7 substitutes for G7 (1, b5, bb7, b3).
Bar 3 : Only one note moves to get from Cmaj7 seventh in the bass (5, 7, 3, 7) and Cmaj13 (5, 7, 3, 13).
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