Let’s take the good ol’ C major scale and use this as a starting point for our 2 5 1 progression:
What is a 2 5 1 Progression and How Can I Build One for Myself?Ī 2 5 1 progression (often marked in Roman numerals as ii – V – I) refers to the chords of the scale and key the song is in. Jazz musicians then took these songs and incorporated that into the jazz language, bringing the two five one along with them. Many of the tunes that were written by Tin Pan Alley composers used the 2 5 1 progression.
Tin Pan Alley consisted of various New York music publishers and composers that wrote staggering amounts of popular music during the late 19th century and early 20th century: The 2 5 1 chord progression is the harmonic foundation for most jazz standards.īefore jazz standards even existed, there was Tin Pan Alley. Where did the 2 5 1 jazz chord progression come from – and why is it important?
