The neo soul ii–V
ii9 | V9 | Imaj7 | Imaj7
The jazz ii–V–I with ninths and a major seventh: smooth and warm, the base of neo soul.
Ukulele · chord progressions
R&B and neo soul chord progressions
The progressions of R&B, soul, neo soul and gospel, built from seventh and ninth chords: the minor slide, the neo soul ii–V, the Dorian groove and the gospel turn. Press Play to hear each on ukulele in any key.
Style
Key
Chords
Colours
homehome, minorthe pullthe doorthe shadowrestlesshalf-lightthe acheheroiccinematicsoft fall
What each chord does in its key. Press a chord to hear it and read more.The minor slide
VImaj7 | V7 | i7 | i7
♭VImaj7 sliding down a half step to V7 and home to the minor seventh: the R&B progression above all others.
The Dorian groove
i9 | IV9 | i9 | IV9
A minor ninth and a dominant ninth a fourth above, back and forth: the vamp of funk and soul.
The lush vamp
Imaj7 | IVmaj7 | Imaj7 | IVmaj7
Two major sevenths rocking back and forth: dreamy and relaxed, for slow jams and lofi.
The smooth turnaround
Imaj7 | vi7 | ii7 | V7
The jazz turnaround in sevenths, the loop of smooth R&B and soul ballads.
Royal road sevenths
IVmaj7 | V7 | iii7 | vi7
IV–V–iii–vi in sevenths: the neo soul and city pop loop.
The gospel turn
I | I7 | IV | iv
I7 leading to IV, then IV turning minor: the gospel move that R&B singers love.
The minor seventh vamp
i7 | iv7 | i7 | iv7
Two minor sevenths a fourth apart: the slow groove of soul and R&B.
The neo soul walk-down
IVmaj7 | iii7 | ii7 | Imaj7
Down the scale in seventh chords from IV to I: smooth and warm.
The soul ballad
Imaj7 | iii7 | vi7 | ii7 V7
Down a fifth at each step, from the major seventh tonic round to V7: the shape of a soul ballad.
Rising sevenths
ii7 | iii7 | IVmaj7 | V7
Up the scale in sevenths, ii to V: hopeful, lifting into the next section.
The minor ninth sway
i9 | VImaj7 | i9 | VImaj7
A minor ninth and the major seventh on ♭VI, swaying back and forth: dreamy and dark.
The R&B backdoor
IVmaj7 | ♭VII7 | Imaj7 | Imaj7
IVmaj7 to ♭VII7 and home, the backdoor of jazz in an R&B groove.
No progression matches. or search every progression ›
What chords are used in R&B and neo soul?
Seventh and ninth chords instead of plain triads: major sevenths, minor sevenths and minor ninths for warmth, dominant sevenths and ninths for movement. The progressions are often short loops of two to four chords, with the colour in the chords themselves.
What is the minor slide?
♭VImaj7–V7–i7 in a minor key: a major seventh chord sliding down a half step to the dominant, then resolving to the minor tonic. In F minor that is D♭maj7, C7 and Fm7.
How to play these smoothly
Use the Nylon or Clean electric sound, a slow tempo and a fingerpicked pattern, and keep the chords close together on the neck, moving as few fingers as you can from one to the next.
More: jazz chord progressions, pop chord progressions, every chord progression.