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Common Jazz Chord Progressions

Introduction

If you have been working your way through these modules, by now you have learned about Jazz
Chords (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chords/) and Voicings
(http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-voicings/), as well as Jazz Scales
(http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-scales/) and Improvisation
(http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-improvisation/). So now it’s time to talk
about some Common Jazz Chord Progressions.

Common Jazz Chord Progressions

Jazz, like every music genre, has it’s overused clichés and standard repertoire. Sometimes a song
becomes so well known and widely played that it becomes a Jazz Standard. And these Jazz Standards
often become or are built from commonly used chord progressions. Below is a list of common Jazz
chord progressions that you will nd in a LOT of a Jazz songs. All of them are widely used and worth
memorising. Keep an eye out for them next time you’re learning a song. The most important
progressions will be covered in greater detail in future lessons.

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OPEN
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Bluesy
 12 Bar Blues

Used in every single blues song ever and many many Jazz songs

C7 C7 C7 C7

F7 F7 C7 C7

G7 F7 C7 C7

Andalusian Cadence
Hit the Road Jack
Why Don’t You do Right?
Feeling Good

Am7 G7 F7 E7

Circle of Fifths

Circle Progression (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-

progressions/circle-of- fths/)
Fly Me to the Moon
Autumn Leaves
You Never Give Me Your Money

Minor Key

Am7 Dm7 G7 CMaj7

FMaj7 Bø7 E7 Am7

Major Key

CMaj7 FMaj7 Bø7 Em7

Am7 Dm7 G7 CMaj7

II-V-I (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-progressions/ii-v-
functionality/) (fragment of the Circle Progression)
Every Jazz Song Ever
 Dm7 G7 CMaj7 CMaj7 

III-VI-II-V (fragment of the Circle Progression)

Every Jazz Song Ever

Em7 - A7 Dm7 - G7 CMaj7 CMaj7

Classics

Line Cliché (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-

progressions/line-cliches/)
My Funny Valentine
Lover Lies
In Walked Bud
Blue Skies

Em/E EmMaj7/D# Em7/D Em6/C# C7 or CMaj7 B7

Em EmMaj7 Em6 Em♭6 C7 or CMaj7 B7

Rhythm Changes (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-

progressions/rhythm-changes/)
I Got Rhythm
Lester Leaps In
Don’t Be That Way
Blue Moon
Cottontail
And there are hundreds more…

CMaj7 Am7 or A7 Dm7 G7

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Pop
 Heart and Soul

Heart and Soul

C Am F G

Four Chord Pop Song (not exactly a Jazz Chord Progression, but it’s common enough to
warrant a mention)
Every Pop Song Every Written!

C G Am F

Another II-V-I

Minor ii-V-i (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-

progressions/minor-ii-v-i/)
Every minor jazz song ever

Dm7♭5 G7♭9 CmMaj7 or Cm6 CmMaj7 or Cm6

Major to relative minor

I-III7-vi OR I-viø-III7-vi 
Georgia on my Mind
Come Rain or Come Shine
There Will Never be Another You
All of Me
Sunny Side on the Street
Blues for Alice

CMaj7 E7 Am7 Dm7 or FMaj7

OR

CMaj7 Bm7♭5 - E7 Am7 Dm7 or FMaj7

‘A’ Train
 I-II7

Take the ‘A’ Train
Girl from Ipanema

CMaj7 CMaj7 D7 D7

Dm7 G7 CMaj7 CMaj7

Parallel minor

II7–iim7 (Dominant to minor)
There Will Never Be Another You

D7 D7 Dm7 G7

IV – iv (Major to minor)
All of Me
All The Things You Are

FMaj7 Fm7 Em7 A7

Dm7 G7 CMaj7 CMaj7

I-i (Major to minor)
The Man I Love
On Green Dolphin Street

CMaj7 CMaj7 Cm7 Cm7

Circle of Fifths

I to IV
I Remember You
 CMaj7 Gm7 - C7 FMaj7 FMaj7 

Dominant Circle
I Got Rhythm
Sweet Georgia Brown

E7 A7 D7 G7

Descending ii-V-I
How High The Moon
One Note Samba

CMaj7 CMaj7 Cm7 FMaj7

B♭Maj7 B♭Maj7 B♭m7 E♭7...etc.

Chromatic

Basic

Em7 - A7 Am7 - D7 Dm7 G7

Bird Changes (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-

progressions/bird-changes/)

Em7 - A7 E♭m7 - A♭7 Dm7 G7

Satin Doll

Em7 - A7 Am7 - D7 A♭m7 - D♭7 CMaj7

Parallel Half-Steps
 Parallel Half-Steps

You Stepped Out of a Dream
Well, You Needn’t
So What
Impressions
Every Modal Jazz song

CMaj7 CMaj7 D♭Maj7 D♭Maj7

Diminished Passing Chords

Diminished Passing Chords

Ain’t Misbehavin’
Have You Met Miss Jones?

CMaj7 - D♭o7 Dm7 - E♭o7 Em7 - A7 Dm7 - G7

Coltrane Changes

Coltrane Changes (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-

progressions/coltrane-changes/)
Giant Steps
Countdown

BMaj7 - D7 GMaj7 - B♭7 E♭Maj7 - F#7 BMaj7

To hear what the above chord progressions sound like, check out the below videos.

Part I
 Common Jazz Chord Progressions Pt I 

Part II

Common Jazz Chord Progressions Pt II

Part III
 Common Jazz Chord Progressions Pt III 

>> NEXT LESSON >> (/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chord-progressions/circle-of-fifths)

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