If you’re serious about a jazz guitar journey, I cannot recommend a better starting point than the ubiquitous 2- 5 – 1. In C major scale, this sequence becomes Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. The chords in this sequence are diatonic chords, as they belong to the same scale. Together, the chords drive a song forward, giving listeners a strong feeling of resolution. The complete progression looks like ii7 – V7 – I7. In its major form, the ii – V – I kicks off with the ii chord (a minor 7th chord), followed by a V chord or a dominant, and finally, the I chord, which is a major 7th chord.
The 2-5-1 exists in both major and minor forms. And that’s why it is the first chord progression on this list. You’ll find it in countless jazz standards, in its basic form, as well as in fascinating variations and voicings. The II – V – I or 2 – 5 – 1 is the bedrock of jazz songwriting.
