Jazz ii-V-I progression on ukulele
What is the Jazz ii-V-I progression?
The Jazz ii-V-I progression is DmDmDmDm, G and C (ii–V–I), in the key of C major. Read as harmonic function it moves subdominant → dominant → tonic, arriving home on a cadence. With sevenths, common in this repertoire, the same path becomes Dm7Dm7Dm7Dm7, G7G7G7G7 and Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7: there is no single required version. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Play any song you love and it does this: leaves home, takes a walk, and at the right moment somebody yells "come back!". This progression is that route, road sign by road sign: Dm (ii, the stroll) → G (V, time to come back) → C (I, home). Hit play and follow with your finger on the names — when you reach the chord marked "time to come back", notice your own body waiting for C — the home chord.
Ukulele
With only four short strings and no bass note, the ukulele lives in a bright, high register; it sketches the chords and leaves the low end to a voice or another instrument. The ukulele has a real jazz streak from the swing era, and its close, clustered chords suit cheerful backing; just remember it colours the harmony rather than anchoring it, since there is no bass note underneath. Its home chord C keeps its lowest note on C and rings 3 open strings.
Cadences: Harmony comes to rest here: hear cadences on the neck, 9 free and another one each week · use it in Chord and Fret
Save this progression in Chord and FretReharmonize: Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize's Subtle and Medium levels are free; Bold and Jazz are part of Pro · open in Chord and Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of C. In the app, every chord in this progression comes with its other shapes and audio, free. Open in Chord and Fret →
Metronome: Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · see it in Chord and Fret