Blue Bossa Chord Progression (i7–iv7–iiø7–V7)
The jam-session Latin standard, smooth minor 7ths resolving through a minor ii–V.
The chords, in every key
i7 – iv7 – iiø7 – V7
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cm7 | i7 |
| 2 | Fm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | Dm7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | G7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In C minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
C Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesCDE♭FGA♭B♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
D Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesDEFGA♭B♭C
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
G Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesGA♭BCDE♭F
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C#m7 | i7 |
| 2 | F#m7 | iv7 |
| 3 | D#m7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | G#7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In C# minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
C# Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesC♯D♯EF♯G♯AB
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
D# Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesD♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
G# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesG♯AB♯C♯D♯EF♯
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dm7 | i7 |
| 2 | Gm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | Em7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | A7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In D minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
D Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesDEFGAB♭C
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
E Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesEF♯GAB♭CD
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
A Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesAB♭C♯DEFG
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ebm7 | i7 |
| 2 | Abm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | Fm7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | Bb7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In Eb minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Eb Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesE♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
F Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesFGA♭B♭C♭D♭E♭
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
Bb Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesB♭C♭DE♭FG♭A♭
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Em7 | i7 |
| 2 | Am7 | iv7 |
| 3 | F#m7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | B7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In E minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
E Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesEF♯GABCD
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
F# Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesF♯G♯ABCDE
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
B Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesBCD♯EF♯GA
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fm7 | i7 |
| 2 | Bbm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | Gm7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | C7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In F minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
F Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
G Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesGAB♭CD♭E♭F
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
C Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesCD♭EFGA♭B♭
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F#m7 | i7 |
| 2 | Bm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | G#m7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | C#7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In F# minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
F# Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesF♯G♯ABC♯DE
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
G# Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesG♯A♯BC♯DEF♯
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
C# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesC♯DE♯F♯G♯AB
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gm7 | i7 |
| 2 | Cm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | Am7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | D7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In G minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
G Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesGAB♭CDE♭F
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
A Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesABCDE♭FG
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
D Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesDE♭F♯GAB♭C
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G#m7 | i7 |
| 2 | C#m7 | iv7 |
| 3 | A#m7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | D#7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In G# minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
G# Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesG♯A♯BC♯D♯EF♯
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
A# Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesA♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
D# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesD♯EF♯♯G♯A♯BC♯
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Am7 | i7 |
| 2 | Dm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | Bm7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | E7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In A minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
A Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesABCDEFG
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
B Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesBC♯DEFGA
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
E Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesEFG♯ABCD
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bbm7 | i7 |
| 2 | Ebm7 | iv7 |
| 3 | Cm7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | F7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In Bb minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
Bb Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesB♭CD♭E♭FG♭A♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
C Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesCDE♭FG♭A♭B♭
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
F Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesFG♭AB♭CD♭E♭
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
| Bar | Chord | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bm7 | i7 |
| 2 | Em7 | iv7 |
| 3 | C#m7b5 | iiø7 |
| 4 | F#7 | V7 |
What to play over it
In B minor. Shapes on each progression's own page.
B Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesBC♯DEF♯GA
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
C# Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesC♯D♯EF♯GAB
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
F# Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesF♯GA♯BC♯DE
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
The shapes
Drawn in C minor. Each one is movable \u2014 slide the whole pattern to put its root on the key you picked above.
C Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesCDE♭FGA♭B♭
Home base — the one set of notes all these bars share.
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
D Locrian ♮2
Locrian, but with a natural 2nd instead of a flat oneNotesDEFGA♭B♭C
Fits this chord cleanly — the usual scale here has a note that fights the root, and this one drops it.
Chord-Scale Reference §7.2 (decided)
G Phrygian dominant
Phrygian, but with a major 3rdNotesGA♭BCDE♭F
This chord raises the key's 7th so it pulls hard back home — plain minor can't do that, and the scale carries the raised note with it.
Chord-Scale Reference §3
Documented in the wild
- Blue BossaKenny Dorham
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