Minor ii V i Turnaround Improvisation Tricks

The 2 5 1 turnaround has been used throughout the history of music to "bring home" (resolve) both major and minor key progressions. It's a great sequence of chords with which to work on your improvisation skills.

The minor key version of 2 5 1 (numerals: ii^ø-V-i) performs a similar function to the more popular major key (ii-V-I), but is governed by different harmonic "rules". This lesson is about breaking down those rules so we can hear, visualize and play through it confidently and musically.

Start by watching the presentation below before moving on to the lesson, which includes ear training audio, backing tracks, licks and everything you need to jam your way through 2 5 1.

Ear Training & Backing Tracks

Feel free to download the tracks below. They play through the minor 2 5 1 sequence in two keys - A minor and D minor. One track is orchestral, the other, slightly faster (60 bpm), in a bossa nova style.

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Track 1 Chords: Bm7b5 - E7 - Am (right click "save as" to download)

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Track 2 Chords: Em7b5 - A7 - Dm9

Minor ii V i Chords

Let's start by getting to know the chord sequence so we know where to position our fingers on the fretboard in any key.

Conveniently, we can visualize the ii-V-i sequence within a three-fret radius. The diagram below shows us the chord roots (colour coded as ii V i) how they would appear in different positions on the fretboard...

minor ii V i root positions on 5th and 6th strings

minor ii V i root positions on 5th and 6th strings

We can build our chord shapes (see diagrams below) on these root positions. So i is our tonic or "home" in minor keys. If the key was A minor, we'd position that 1 chord root on A, either on the 6th string (5th fret) or 5th string (12th fret or open) and then visualize the ii and V chord roots in relation to that.

ii^ø chord

The ^ø symbol (superscript circle with a line through) means the chord is "half diminished". This is another way of saying "minor 7 flat 5" (a minor 7th chord with a flat 5th), which is why you'll often see the chord abbreviated as m7b5 (e.g. Bm7b5 or B half diminished). This chord occurs naturally in the harmonic and natural minor scales.

6th String Root 5th String Root
half diminished chord fingerings

This is the chord type most commonly built on the ii root in minor keys.

V chord

Most often this will be a dominant 7th chord...

6th String Root 5th String Root
Dominant 7th chord fingerings

...but sometimes extended (especially in jazz) to flat 9 and sharp 9 dominant 7th chords...

dominant 7th flat 9th chord fingerings

It's also often played as an augmented 7th chord to add tension...

Augmented 7th chord fingerings

i chord

Our tonic or "home" chord. Typically a minor triad...

6th String Root 5th String Root
minor triad barre chord fingerings

...but can be extended to a minor 6th...

minor 6th chord fingerings

...minor/major 7th...

minor/major 7th chord fingerings

...minor 7th...

minor 7th chord fingerings

...or minor 9th...

minor 9th chord fingerings

ii V i Chord Patterns / Arpeggios

The first step in being able to improvise confidently and melodically through chord changes is to practice targeting chord tones. You'll later color these chord tones by wrapping scales around them.

By using chord tones as the target notes of your phrases, you'll keep your solo/licks connected to the backing music. Think of it like connecting the dots to create something meaningful.