ii–V–IV–I

A ii–V that detours through the subdominant before arriving at the tonic, combining authentic and plagal cadential motion. The IV chord softens the resolution, giving it a gospel-inflected warmth.

Pattern: ii – V – IV – I   Example in C Major: Dm – G – F – C

Genre: jazz   Difficulty: intermediate

Choose a Key

C Major Dm – G – F – C G Major Am – D – C – G D Major Em – A – G – D A Major Bm – E – D – A E Major F♯m – B – A – E B Major C♯m – F♯ – E – B F♯ Major G♯m – C♯ – B – F♯ F Major Gm – C – B♭ – F B♭ Major Cm – F – E♭ – B♭ E♭ Major Fm – B♭ – A♭ – E♭ A♭ Major Bbm – E♭ – D♭ – A♭ D♭ Major Ebm – A♭ – G♭ – D♭

Song Examples