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Theory · Expert · 6 min

Guide Tones Through a ii–V–I

Play only the third and seventh of each chord and hear the progression move by half steps.

How to play it
  1. Dm7: F and C. G7: F and B. Cmaj7: E and B.
  2. Hold each pair of notes for a full beat and hear which note stays and which moves a half step.
  3. Loop it until you can sing the moving line before you play it.

What the coach checks: Pitch of each guide tone in order.

Goal80 BPM · 80% accuracy
Your bestNo result yet
Rating–

Tab player

Hear the line

eBGDAE123

Tap any number to hear it. Four clicks count you in.

100% is the goal tempo, 80 BPM. The speed presets climb from Learn to Goal about 10% at a time, and the practice slider below uses the same scale. Build a full ladder to your goal

Your practice room

Find each note

Single-note pitch feedback. Practice waits for each note; Play checks the sequence at your chosen tempo. This does not assess chord quality or fret buzz.

This checkpoint needs 80 BPM or faster and the required accuracy. Slower Play attempts still produce practice scores.

Exercise map · 12 targets
  1. 1. F3Bar 1 · beat 1 · string 4 · fret 3
  2. 2. C4Bar 1 · beat 2 · string 3 · fret 5
  3. 3. F3Bar 1 · beat 3 · string 4 · fret 3
  4. 4. B3Bar 1 · beat 4 · string 3 · fret 4
  5. 5. E3Bar 2 · beat 1 · string 4 · fret 2
  6. 6. B3Bar 2 · beat 2 · string 3 · fret 4
  7. 7. F3Bar 2 · beat 3 · string 4 · fret 3
  8. 8. C4Bar 2 · beat 4 · string 3 · fret 5
  9. 9. F3Bar 3 · beat 1 · string 4 · fret 3
  10. 10. B3Bar 3 · beat 2 · string 3 · fret 4
  11. 11. E3Bar 3 · beat 3 · string 4 · fret 2
  12. 12. B3Bar 3 · beat 4 · string 3 · fret 4

Chord names and stroke directions are visual guidance. Rhythm scoring measures attack timing.

Target 1 of 12F3String 4 · fret 3

Play one note at a time.

Tune first. Audio stays on this device.

Why this drill

Thirds and sevenths define a chord's quality. Moving between them by the smallest step is how players outline changes with two notes, and it gives a solo over chord changes a clear melodic spine.

Common mistakes

  1. Moving a finger that should stay put

    Fix: F stays on string 4 fret 3 from Dm7 to G7, and B stays on string 3 fret 4 from G7 to Cmaj7. Leave the finger down on the shared note; only one finger moves at each change.

  2. Losing track of which note is the third

    Fix: Say it as you play. F is the third of Dm7, but over G7 the same F is the seventh. The note stays and its job changes, which is the whole idea of guide tones.

  3. Playing pairs without hearing the line

    Fix: Sing the moving voice: C down to B, then F down to E. Those two half steps are what make the progression sound like it resolves.

Tempo plan

100% is the goal tempo, 80 BPM. Each rung sits about 10% above the one before it, so every step up is one you can hold. The speed presets in the player above use the same rungs.

  1. Learn 60 BPM · 75%Let every note ring its full beat and listen for which voice moved.
  2. Build 66 BPM · 83%Hear the drill as two voices: string 4 plays F, F, E and string 3 plays C, B, B.
  3. Push 73 BPM · 91%Switch to Play · full check here. Two clean passes in a row earn the next rung.
  4. Goal 80 BPM · 100%Twelve even quarter notes, two passes through the progression, with no hitch at the repeat from B back to F. A pass at 80% accuracy or better clears the drill.
  5. Stretch 88 BPM · 110%Run a few passes here, then return to the goal. Time above the goal makes the goal feel settled.

Build a full ladder to your goal with holds and back-off sessions, starting from the tempo you can play today.

Make it music

Strum each pair together as a two-note chord, F and C, then F and B, then E and B, and you have a sparse jazz comping part. Guide tones also give a solo its skeleton over changes.

Variation

Use the top voice, C to B to B, as the frame for a solo: improvise freely, but arrive on that note each time a new chord starts. Then do the same with the lower voice, F to F to E.

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