ii–♭II–I in D Major

Pattern: ii – ♭II – I Chords: Em – E♭ – D

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
ii	Em (details)	minor	Supertonic
♭II	E♭ (details)	major	Supertonic
I	D (details)	major	Tonic

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through Em (Supertonic) → E♭ (Supertonic) → D (Tonic).

A cadence where the dominant V is replaced by its tritone substitution ♭II, creating a smooth chromatic bass descent from ii to ♭II to I. This is one of the most commonly used substitutions in jazz arranging.

Song Examples

Lady Bird — Tadd Dameron
Countdown — John Coltrane

Chord Details

Em E♭ D

More Progressions in D Major

I–IV–V–I I–V–vi–IV I–vi–IV–V ii–V–I I–IV–V I–♭VII–IV vi–IV–I–V I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V I–IV I–V IV–V IV–I