This eight-bar exercise is designed to help beginners practice major ii–V7 licks on guitar.
The concept is simple: play the same phrase in three different keys, transposing it down by two semitones (one whole step) each time. This is also an excellent warm-up exercise for developing fretboard awareness and improving your ability to navigate the neck.
The Lick
The phrase played in the first two bars serves as the foundation for the entire study.
The progression begins with Gm7 and C7, which function as the ii7 and V7 chords in the key of F major. The line features a Gm7 arpeggio (G–Bb–D–F) in bar 1, followed by an Em7♭5 arpeggio played over C7 in bar 2.
Notice that a half-diminished arpeggio built on the third of a dominant seventh chord outlines several important chord tones and tensions, including the 9th of the dominant chord. In this case, the Em7♭5 arpeggio (E–G–Bb–D) over C7 creates a rich dominant sound that strongly leads to the resolution.
The same phrase is then transposed down by two semitones and played over Fm7–Bb7, the ii7–V7 progression in E♭ major. Finally, the pattern is transposed down another two semitones and applied to E♭m7–A♭7, forming a ii7–V7 progression that resolves to D♭maj7.
For more ideas and practice material, be sure to check out the 40 II–V–I Licks PDF. In the meantime, you can study the transcription below with standard notation and tablature, and watch the accompanying Instagram video.