iiø–V–i in C Minor: Dm7♭5 – G7♭9 – Cm7

iiø–V–i in C Minor — Dm7♭5 – G7♭9 – Cm7

The iiø–V–i in C minor is Dm7♭5 – G7♭9 – Cm7. Over Dm7♭5 play Locrian (D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C); Over G7♭9 play Phrygian dominant (G A♭ B C D E♭ F); Over Cm7 play Aeolian (natural minor) (C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭). C minor is one of the most-played minor keys in jazz; Dm7♭5 – G7♭9 – Cm7 is the minor cadence most players learn first.

Hear it, see it, play it — in C minor.

Loop

Lead

Tempo110 bpm

iiø⁷

iiø

D^m7♭5

ArpeggioD · F · A♭ · C

Chord-scaleLocrian D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C

V⁷♭⁹

G^7♭9

ArpeggioG · B · D · F

Chord-scalePhrygian dominant G A♭ B C D E♭ F

i⁷

C^m7

ArpeggioC · E♭ · G · B♭

Chord-scaleAeolian (natural minor) C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭

Chord-scale on your instrument

Showing: Cm7 — Aeolian (natural minor)

Piano · Dm7♭5 with Locrian

Guitar · standard tuning

Piano · G7♭9 with Phrygian dominant

Guitar · standard tuning

Piano · Cm7 with Aeolian (natural minor)

Guitar · standard tuning

RootChord toneScale toneBeing played

Play this chord:

Click any chord card to see its scale, and tap any key or fret to hear that note. Turn on “+ Arpeggios” or “+ Scales” and the guitar or piano plays the line live over the vamp, lighting each note on the diagram as it sounds. All audio is synthesized in your browser — nothing is recorded or copyrighted.

C minor iiø–V–i — chords, arpeggios & chord-scales.

Function	Chord	Chord tones (1–3–5–7)	Chord-scale	Scale notes
iiø⁷	Dm7♭5	D – F – A♭ – C	Locrian	D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
V⁷♭⁹	G7♭9	G – B – D – F	Phrygian dominant	G A♭ B C D E♭ F
i⁷	Cm7	C – E♭ – G – B♭	Aeolian (natural minor)	C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭

Guide tones	Dm7♭5	G7♭9	Cm7
3rd	F	B	E♭
7th	C	F	B♭

Build the C minor cadence into your ear.

1. Arpeggios in time. Loop the vamp at 70–90 bpm and play Dm7♭5, G7♭9, Cm7 as 1–3–5–7 quarter notes, one chord per bar. Use the “+ Arpeggios” loop above to hear it played and copy the line.

2. Guide tones. Play only the 3rd and 7th of each chord: F–C → B–F → E♭–B♭. Notice that F, the 7th of G7, falls a half-step to E♭, the 3rd of Cm7 — that is the resolution.

3. Chord-scales. Run Locrian on Dm7♭5, Phrygian dominant on G7♭9, Aeolian (natural minor) on Cm7, then improvise keeping chord tones on beats 1 and 3.

4. Move it. When C is clean, go to F minor — a fourth up — and keep going around the circle.

C minor iiø–V–i FAQ.

What are the chords of the iiø–V–i in C minor?

Dm7♭5 – G7♭9 – Cm7. The iiø chord is Dm7♭5 (D, F, A♭, C); The V chord is G7♭9 (G, B, D, F); The i chord is Cm7 (C, E♭, G, B♭).

Which scales do I play over Dm7♭5 – G7♭9 – Cm7?

Dm7♭5: Locrian (D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C). G7♭9: Phrygian dominant (G A♭ B C D E♭ F). Cm7: Aeolian (natural minor) (C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭).

What is the guide-tone line for the iiø–V–i in C minor?

The thirds and sevenths: F and C over Dm7♭5, B and F over G7♭9, E♭ and B♭ over Cm7. Each voice moves by a half-step or stays put — that is what makes the progression sound like it resolves.

How should I practise this progression?

Loop the vamp at a slow tempo, play each arpeggio 1–3–5–7 in time, then play each chord-scale up and down, then improvise using only chord tones on the strong beats. When it is clean, move to the next key around the circle of fourths.

Hear it, see it, play it — in C minor.

Chord-scale on your instrument

C minor iiø–V–i — chords, arpeggios & chord-scales.

Build the C minor cadence into your ear.

C minor iiø–V–i FAQ.

The minor iiø–V–i in every other key.