Jazz Progressions are based on a II-V-I progression. The II-V-I sounds
the jazziest with seventh chords. As you already know from past lessons,
the II chord is a minor chord, the V chord is a dominant chord, and the
I chord is a major chord. So the most basic Jazz progression is the II minor
7 - V dominant 7 - I major 7. Let's look at it in the key of C. The chords
are D minor 7 - G7 - C major 7. These are the main chords of the progression.
Here are a few examples of a II-V-I in the key of C. Try playing these examples
and you will see the jazzy sound that they give. (Note: The X's do not
represent muted notes)
