ii-V Vamp (ii7 V7)
The ii-V vamp is the chord progression ii7-V7. In the key of C major it is Dm7 G7, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 2m(7) 5(7).
It is also known as two-five vamp.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The ii chord and the V chord rock back and forth without landing on I, so the tension never quite resolves. The move from ii to V is a falling fifth, and the seventh of ii falls a half step to the third of V, which makes the loop very smooth. Both chords come from the major scale, so the vamp sits in the Dorian and Mixolydian colours of one key.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeysuckle Rose | Fats Waller | A section, bars 1 to 3 | Gm7 C7 | Gm7 C7 | Gm7 C7 | F6 | F major |
| Satin Doll | Duke Ellington | A section, bars 1 and 2 | Dm7 G7 | Dm7 G7 | C major |
| What's Going On | Marvin Gaye | repeating vamp section | F#m11 B13 | F#m B13 | F#m B13 | F#m B13 | E major |
ii-V Vamp: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- Minor ii-V-i: Dm7b5 G7 Cm
- Diatonic circle of fifths: C F Bdim Em Am Dm G C
- iii-VI-ii-V turnaround: Em A7 Dm G7
- Sears Roebuck bridge: E7 A7 D7 G7
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the ii-V vamp in each key?
In C major: Dm7 G7. In G major: Am7 D7. In D major: Em7 A7. In A major: Bm7 E7. In E major: F#m7 B7.
Which songs use the ii-V vamp?
Songs that use it include Honeysuckle Rose by Fats Waller, Satin Doll by Duke Ellington, What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.
