What are the chords in the Minor ii–V–i in the key of C?

In the key of C, the Minor ii–V–i uses: Dm7♭5 – G7 – Cm7. The roman numeral pattern is: iiøø7 – V7 – im7.

What genre is the Minor ii–V–i used in?

The Minor ii–V–i is primarily used in Jazz music. It is also common in: jazz, minor, ii-V-i, half-diminished, cadence.

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Jazz

Chord Progression

Minor ii–V–i

Q: What is the Minor ii–V–i?

Essential minor-key jazz cadence.

iiøø7 – V7 – im7

The essential minor key jazz cadence — darker and more dramatic than its major counterpart, with a half-diminished ii chord adding extra tension.

Example in C

Chords in C major / C minor

Dm7♭5 – G7 – Cm7

iiøø7 – V7 – im7

Progression Steps

1iiøminor7b5+2 st

2Vdominant7+7 st

3iminor7+0 st

Sound Character

The essential minor key jazz cadence — darker and more dramatic than its major counterpart, with a half-diminished ii chord adding extra tension.

DarkSophisticatedTenseDramaticResolved

Theory

The minor ii–V–i (iiø7–V7–im) is the minor key version of the jazz ii–V–I. The key difference is the half-diminished ii chord (iiø7, written with the ø symbol) — instead of a minor seventh chord, the ii chord in minor is a half-diminished seventh (minor chord with a diminished fifth). This creates even more tension pointing toward the V chord. The V7 chord in minor is often played with a flat ninth (V7♭9) for additional tension that strongly wants to resolve to the minor tonic. In C minor: Dm7♭5 – G7 – Cm7 (or with more jazz color: Dm7♭5 – G7♭9 – Cm(maj7)).