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Minor II-V-I
Major II-V-I

Most of us know the Major II-V-I (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-

progressions/ii-v-functionality/) (although we will cover it in more detail in an upcoming lesson).This is
one of the most commonly used chord progressions in Jazz. In the key of C Major it is:

| Dm7 – G7 | CMaj7 ||

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Minor II-V-I

However, another very commonly used chord progression is the Minor II-V-I. In the key of C Minor,
a Minor II-V-I would have the following chords:

| Dm7♭5 – G7alt | CmMaj7 ||

This chord progression can be derived in two di erent ways:

All from the C Harmonic Minor Scale

Chord C harmonic minor Chord Tones

Dø7 C D E♭ F G A♭ B D F A♭ C
 Chord C harmonic minor Chord Tones 
G7♭9 C D E♭ F G A♭ B G B D F A♭

CmMaj7 C D E♭ F G A♭ B C E♭ G B

From three di erent melodic minor (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-

lessons/jazz-scales/melodic-minor-modes/) scales
Dm7♭5 = F melodic minor
G7alt = A♭ melodic minor
CmMaj7 = C melodic minor

Chord Key Scale Tones Chord Tones

Dø7 F mel min F G A♭ B♭ C D E D F A♭ C

G7alt A♭ mel min A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G G C♭ F

(no 5th)

CmMaj7 C mel min C D E♭ F G A B C E♭ G B

This means we can use one harmonic minor scale or three melodic minor scales to improvise over a
Minor II-V-I.

Incomplete Minor II-V-I

While we can call the above a ‘pure’ Minor II-V-I, often you will nd the minor II-V followed by a I with
a di erent chord quality. While not ‘pure’ Minor II-V-I’s, these are found in many Jazz Standards. Some
common ones are shown below as well as the appropriate scale to use when improvising over the I
chord.

II V I Scale for I Chord

Dø7 G7alt CmMaj7 C melodic minor

Dø7 G7alt Cm C harmonic or melodic minor

Dø7 G7alt Cm6 C melodic minor

Dø7 G7alt Cm7 C Dorian or Aeolian

 II V I Scale for I Chord 
Dø7 G7alt CMaj7 C Ionian or Lydian

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Melodic vs Harmonic

As we discussed above, we can use one harmonic minor scale or three melodic minor scales to
improvise over a Minor II-V-I. While the former may sound simpler, in practice most Jazz musicians
would use the latter. This is due to two reasons:

Because traditionally and as the names imply

the harmonic minor scale was used only for harmony (i.e. to derive chord from);
while
the melodic minor scale was used for melody
And because by using the relevant melodic minor scales you remove all the avoid notes
found in the harmonic minor scale.

Chord Notes Avoid Notes C Har min Mel mins Mel min notes

Dø7 D F A♭ C E♭ & B C D E♭ F G A♭ B F mel min F G A♭ B♭ C D E

G7alt GBDF C A♭ mel min A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G

CmMaj7 C E♭ G B A♭ C mel min C D E♭ F G A B

Have a Listen to

Pure (Complete) Minor II-V-I (ending in mMaj7)

Nica’s Dream
Dance Cadaverous
Incomplete (ending in m Triad)
Autumn Leaves
Sweet George Brown
Alone Together
Incomplete (ending in m6)
 Blue Bossa

Incomplete (ending in m7)
Georgia on my mind
Fly me to the Moon
Incomplete (ending in Maj7)
Stella by Starlight
How High The Moon
I Love You
What is this Thing Called Love?

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Jazz Piano Tutorial - Minor II-V-I

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