Jazz Chord Progression Generator
Generate ii-V-I cadences, turnarounds and extended chords in any key. Hear them right away, lock the ones that work and export MIDI for your DAW. Free, no account.
Generate Jazz ChordsWhat the jazz preset does differently
Pop and rock progressions mostly use plain triads. Jazz almost never does. The Jazz preset in Chordoo builds every chord as at least a seventh and often reaches for ninths, elevenths and thirteenths: Cmaj9 instead of C, Dm11 instead of Dm, G13 or G7♭9 instead of G.
The movement is different too. Jazz progressions tend to move by fifths (D to G to C), which is why the ii-V-I sounds so settled. The generator draws on twelve patterns that move this way: the ii-V-I itself, I-vi-ii-V turnarounds, iii-vi-ii-V circle-of-fifths runs, and stepwise lines like IV-iii-ii-I.
8 jazz progressions to start from
Each one opens in the generator with the chords loaded. Change the key, try a different voicing, or lock the first two chords and regenerate the rest.
| Progression | Numerals | Chords | Sound | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major ii-V-I | ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – Imaj7 | Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7C major | The cadence most of jazz harmony is built on. | Play & export |
| Minor ii-V-i | iiø7 – V7♭9 – i7 – i7 | Bm7b5 – E7b9 – Am7 – Am7A minor | Darker. The half-diminished ii and the ♭9 on the V give it bite. | Play & export |
| Rhythm changes A | Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 | Bbmaj7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – F7Bb major | The turnaround from I Got Rhythm, usually played in B♭. | Play & export |
| Long turnaround | iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 | Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7C major | Each root falls a fifth. Ends on V so it loops back to I. | Play & export |
| Tritone sub | ii7 – ♭II7 – Imaj7 – Imaj7 | Dm7 – Db7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7C major | Replaces G7 with D♭7. The bass slides down by half steps. | Play & export |
| Backdoor | iv7 – ♭VII7 – Imaj7 – Imaj7 | Fm7 – Bb7 – Cmaj7 – Cmaj7C major | Approaches I from below instead of from V. Soft and a bit nostalgic. | Play & export |
| Line cliché | IVmaj7 – iii7 – ii7 – Imaj7 | Fmaj7 – Em7 – Dm7 – Cmaj7C major | Steps straight down to home. Good for intros and endings. | Play & export |
| Lo-fi ninths | IVmaj9 – iii7 – vi9 – ii9 | Fmaj9 – Em7 – Am9 – Dm9C major | Jazz voicings at a hip-hop tempo. Never fully resolves. | Play & export |
How to get a real jazz sound from the MIDI
Voice-lead, do not jump
In a ii-V-I, the seventh of each chord falls by a half step into the third of the next one (C in Dm7 becomes B in G7, F in G7 becomes E in Cmaj7). Root-position block chords hide this. Use the voicing panel to try first or second inversion and open voicings until the top notes barely move.
Leave the root to the bass
Jazz pianists rarely play the root when a bass player is there. After exporting, delete the lowest note of each chord in your piano roll and play roots, or a walking line, on a separate bass track. The chords will sound lighter right away.
Pick the right instrument
A Rhodes or Wurlitzer suits fusion and lo-fi. A felt or upright piano suits ballads. A soft pad works if you are using jazz harmony in house or ambient music. Keep velocity between about 60 and 90 so the extensions do not get harsh.
Where jazz progressions turn up outside jazz
- Lo-fi hip hop: ii-V-I and I-vi-ii-V at 70 to 90 BPM. See the lo-fi chord progressions guide.
- Deep house: minor 9 and minor 11 stabs over a four-on-the-floor kick. Try the house chord generator.
- Neo soul and R&B: the same extended chords, played slower and darker. See the R&B and neo soul generator.
- Boom bap: chopped jazz samples are the backbone of 90s hip hop. The hip hop progressions guide covers it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common jazz chord progression?
The ii-V-I. In C major it is Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. Most jazz standards are strings of ii-V-I cadences moving through different keys, so learning to hear and play it in all 12 keys covers a large share of the repertoire.
Which chords does the jazz generator use?
Major 7, major 9, 6 and major 13 chords on I and IV; minor 7, 9 and 11 on ii; dominant 7, 9, 13, 7♭9 and 7♯11 on V; minor 7 or half-diminished on vi and vii. Progressions come from patterns like ii-V-I, I-vi-ii-V and iii-vi-ii-V.
Can I use the jazz preset for lo-fi or neo soul?
Yes. Lo-fi hip hop is largely jazz harmony at 70 to 90 BPM. Generate with the Jazz preset, export the MIDI and put it on a Rhodes or a detuned piano. For darker, minor-key loops, the R&B/Soul preset is closer.
How do I make generated jazz chords sound less stiff?
Use open voicings or an inversion so each chord moves as little as possible from the last one. Drop the root from the chord and give it to the bass. Then humanize the MIDI timing slightly in your DAW and vary the velocity.