Jazz lead sheet · Beginner
ii–V–I Workout: Down in Whole Steps
Three major ii–V–Is, each a whole step lower: C, B♭ and A♭.
- Composer
- Practice drill
- Form
- 12 bars
- Key
- C major
- Style
- Swing
- Length
- 12 bars
CC major
ii7D Dorian
V7G Mixolydian
Imaj7C Ionian
Imaj7C Ionian
B♭B♭ major
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
Imaj7B♭ Ionian
Imaj7B♭ Ionian
A♭A♭ major
ii7B♭ Dorian
V7E♭ Mixolydian
Imaj7A♭ Ionian
Imaj7A♭ Ionian
For students
What to notice
- Every key uses the same shape: minor 7 → dominant 7 → major 7.
- The minor 7th chord at the start of each new key is the old tonic made minor. Only one note changes.
- The guide tones fall by half steps: the 7th of each chord becomes the 3rd of the next.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Play the guide-tone dyads in each key and notice that the hand barely moves.
- Arpeggiate the three chords of each key, starting on the 3rd instead of the root.
- Transpose the drill to all 12 keys with the key menu.
For teachers
Using this chart in class
- Project the chart with Play along running and loop one section while students find the guide tones.
- Choose Practice → Name the numerals for a whole-class quiz: students vote, then reveal the explanation.
- Mixed ensemble? Print the worksheet once per transposition: B♭, E♭, F and bass clef parts all line up bar for bar.
- Share a link: the key, instrument and view you choose are saved in the address bar.
Chord changes are common performance versions written out by Music Theory Lessons. No melodies or lyrics are reproduced. Names of songs and composers are used only to identify each tune.