🎷 Jazz Chord Progression Generator
Pick a key and a progression to get the chord symbols, from the essential ii–V–I to rhythm changes, jazz blues, minor ii–V–i and Coltrane changes — with the key's diatonic seventh chords shown alongside.
🎷 ii–V–I
Diatonic 7th chords in C major
| Imaj7 | iim7 | iiim7 | IVmaj7 | V7 | vim7 | viiø7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmaj7 | Dm7 | Em7 | Fmaj7 | G7 | Am7 | Bm7b5 |
The grammar of jazz harmony
Most standards are built from a handful of progressions strung together and transposed. Learn the ii–V–I and the rhythm-changes turnaround in every key and you can hear your way through a huge chunk of the repertoire.
Voice these chords at the keyboard with the Scale & Mode Finder for the right note choices, and use the Circle of Fifths Explorer to see why the roots move the way they do.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a ii–V–I progression?
The ii–V–I is the cornerstone of jazz harmony: the minor-seventh chord on the second degree, the dominant-seventh on the fifth, and the major-seventh tonic. In C major that is Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. The roots fall by fifths and each chord pulls strongly to the next, which is why it turns up in tune after tune.
What are the diatonic seventh chords of a key?
Stacking sevenths on each degree of a major scale gives a fixed pattern of qualities: Imaj7, iim7, iiim7, IVmaj7, V7, vim7 and viiø7 (half-diminished). In C that is Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7 and Bm7♭5. Named progressions simply pick chords from this set.
How is a jazz blues different from a plain blues?
A jazz blues keeps the 12-bar form but makes the I, IV and V chords all dominant sevenths and often adds ii–V motion and turnarounds. This generator lays out the basic dominant-seventh shell — I7, IV7 and V7 across the twelve bars — as a foundation you can embellish.
What are Coltrane changes?
Coltrane changes, made famous by "Giant Steps," move through three tonal centres a major third apart, each reached by its own dominant. Starting from C they run Cmaj7 – E♭7 – A♭maj7 – B7 – Emaj7 – G7 – Cmaj7. They are a challenging but rewarding study in reharmonisation.