Hear the roots
At 60 bpm, first find these chord roots: E, A, D. Then play or sing the root of each sounding chord as you follow the trainer. Keep counting through the whole form. If you lose your place, return to roots before adding notes.
iiø–V–i · D minor
iiø–V–i in D Minor — Em7♭5 – A7♭9 – Dm7
The iiø–V–i in D minor is Em7♭5 – A7♭9 – Dm7. Over Em7♭5 play Locrian (E F G A B♭ C D); Over A7♭9 play Phrygian dominant (A B♭ C♯ D E F G); Over Dm7 play Aeolian (natural minor) (D E F G A B♭ C). D minor is the relative of F and a cornerstone minor key; its cadence Em7♭5 – A7♭9 – Dm7 is a good place to learn the sound of the ♭9 on the dominant.
Interactive trainer
Hear it, see it, play it — in D minor.
Loop
Lead
Tempo110 bpm
iiø⁷
iiø
Em7♭5
V⁷♭⁹
V
A7♭9
i⁷
i
Dm7
Chord-scale on your instrument
Showing: Dm7 — Aeolian (natural minor)
Piano · Em7♭5 with Locrian
Guitar · standard tuning
Piano · A7♭9 with Phrygian dominant
Guitar · standard tuning
Piano · Dm7 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.
Your next 10 minutes
ii–V–I in D: from chords to a solo
Connect the guide tones
Em7♭5: G and D; A7♭9: C♯ and G; Dm7: F and C. Choose one voice and move to the nearest third or seventh in the next chord. Use your ear; not every transition is a half step.
Improvise with a limit
Using the chords Em7♭5, A7♭9, Dm7, use only chord tones for one chorus. On the next chorus add a single passing note between targets. Repeat one rhythmic idea, then leave a full bar of space.
Listen for this: Resolve into Dm7 without rushing. Success means keeping the form and hearing your next target, not reaching the highest tempo.
Understand the sound
ii–V–I in D: hear the connections
In a minor cadence, the dominant introduces a raised leading tone that natural minor does not supply. Listen to that note’s pull into the tonic; do not run one unchanging scale across every chord.
| Chord change | One possible line | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| Em7♭5 → A7♭9 | D → C♯ | Down 1 semitone |
| A7♭9 → Dm7 | G → F | Down 2 semitones |
Build the line before the solo
Play the first pitch in each row during its chord, then move to the target as the next chord begins. Choose an octave that allows the indicated movement. Sing the line once before playing it; add the bass roots only after the upper voice feels secure.
Check that you can hear the form
Stop playing for one complete cycle while you keep counting. Re-enter on Dm7. If you miss the entrance, simplify to roots and work at 60 bpm before adding passing notes.
Reference
D minor iiø–V–i — chords, arpeggios & chord-scales.
| Function | Chord | Chord tones (1–3–5–7) | Chord-scale | Scale notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iiø⁷ | Em7♭5 | E – G – B♭ – D | Locrian | E F G A B♭ C D |
| V⁷♭⁹ | A7♭9 | A – C♯ – E – G | Phrygian dominant | A B♭ C♯ D E F G |
| i⁷ | Dm7 | D – F – A – C | Aeolian (natural minor) | D E F G A B♭ C |
| Guide tones | Em7♭5 | A7♭9 | Dm7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | G | C♯ | F |
| 7th | D | G | C |
How to practise this
Build the D minor cadence into your ear.
1. Arpeggios in time. Loop the vamp at 70–90 bpm and play Em7♭5, A7♭9, Dm7 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: G–D → C♯–G → F–C. Notice that G, the 7th of A7, moves to F, the 3rd of Dm7 — that is the resolution.
3. Chord-scales. Run Locrian on Em7♭5, Phrygian dominant on A7♭9, Aeolian (natural minor) on Dm7, then improvise keeping chord tones on beats 1 and 3.
4. Move it. When D is clean, go to G minor — a fourth up — and keep going around the circle.
Take it to the bandstand.Practice Radio streams this cadence and every other progression through all twelve keys, with the chord and scale shown live — plus ear-training and call & response modes.
▶ Open Practice RadioCommon questions
D minor iiø–V–i FAQ.
What are the chords of the iiø–V–i in D minor?
Em7♭5 – A7♭9 – Dm7. The iiø chord is Em7♭5 (E, G, B♭, D); The V chord is A7♭9 (A, C♯, E, G); The i chord is Dm7 (D, F, A, C).
Which scales do I play over Em7♭5 – A7♭9 – Dm7?
Em7♭5: Locrian (E F G A B♭ C D). A7♭9: Phrygian dominant (A B♭ C♯ D E F G). Dm7: Aeolian (natural minor) (D E F G A B♭ C).
What is the guide-tone line for the iiø–V–i in D minor?
The thirds and sevenths: G and D over Em7♭5, C♯ and G over A7♭9, F and C over Dm7. Connect each voice to the nearest available third or seventh of the next chord; the distance depends on the progression and voicing.
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.
All twelve keys
The minor iiø–V–i in every other key.
Explore the relative key: F major (the relative major). Read the theory in What is a ii–V–I?, or see the scales on their own pages: E Locrian, A Harmonic minor, D Aeolian.