Learn › The minor 2-5-1 Chord Progression (iiø-V-i)
New Released in April 2026
The minor 2-5-1 Chord Progression (iiø-V-i)
minor 2-5-1 means chords iiø-V-i of the key: in C that is Bm7b5 – E7 – Am7. A dark, smooth way back to the minor home chord. Here it is in every key, ready to play.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
minor 2-5-1 in every key
| Key | Chords |
|---|---|
| C minor | Dm7b5 – G7 – Cm7 |
| C sharp minor | D#m7b5 – G#7 – C#m7 |
| D minor | Em7b5 – A7 – Dm7 |
| E flat minor | Fm7b5 – Bb7 – Ebm7 |
| E minor | F#m7b5 – B7 – Em7 |
| F minor | Gm7b5 – C7 – Fm7 |
| F sharp minor | G#m7b5 – C#7 – F#m7 |
| G minor | Am7b5 – D7 – Gm7 |
| G sharp minor | A#m7b5 – D#7 – G#m7 |
| A minor | Bm7b5 – E7 – Am7 |
| B flat minor | Cm7b5 – F7 – Bbm7 |
| B minor | C#m7b5 – F#7 – Bm7 |
minor 2-5-1 in A minor on the piano
Each chord uses the shape nearest to the one before, so the hand barely moves.
How to practise the minor 2-5-1 progression
- Start in C: four beats per chord, name each one out loud.
- Move it to G and F, then to keys with more black keys.
- Loop it until you stop looking at your hands, then speed up.
Loop minor 2-5-1 in ChordRunner
In ChordRunner you can loop Bm7b5 – E7 – Am7, or the same progression in any key, until it is automatic (advanced feature in ChordRunner Premium). MIDI keyboard or microphone.
Play the demoCommon questions
What is the minor 2-5-1 chord progression?
It is the chords built on degrees iiø-V-i of a key. In C: Bm7b5 – E7 – Am7; in G: F#m7b5 – B7 – Em7.
How do I play minor 2-5-1 on piano and guitar?
Find the key, take its chords iiø-V-i, and use the nearest shape of each chord. On guitar, Bm7b5 – E7 – Am7 uses easy shapes in C.
Can I loop the minor 2-5-1 progression while I practise?
Yes. In ChordRunner you type a progression and it loops while you play on a USB MIDI keyboard, or a piano or guitar through the microphone (advanced feature in ChordRunner Premium).
Which key is easiest for minor 2-5-1?
On the piano, A minor: its chords use 1 black keys in total. The hardest is G sharp minor, with 9. Start easy, then move to the others.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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