Backcycle: each ii–V deposits you a whole step lower (or keep going — every stop is a legal exit). Distance is no object; the chain IS the map. Demo: home, then down a whole step via its ii–V.
hear it in “Fly Me to the Moon” — the opening descent
Lead-in — how players set it upStart the chain from 3- or 6⁷ — anywhere on the wheel.Or enter on a borrowed link — 4-⁷ reads as someone's 2-⁷.Or start the wheel at 6⁷ — one dominant is invitation enough.Follow — where it usually goesEvery ii–V landing is a legal exit; stop when the melody says so.Exit two stops early or late — the wheel doesn't mind.Or tritone-sub alternating links for the chromatic-bass version.
Ride guide tones around the wheel: each b7 falls to a 3rd, station after station, until you step off.Target tones (in C)Em7 — lean on G (b3) · D (b7)A7 — lean on C# (3) · G (b7)Dm7 — lean on F (b3) · C (b7)G7 — lean on B (3) · F (b7)C — lean on E (3)Cm7 — lean on Eb (b3) · Bb (b7)F7 — lean on A (3) · Eb (b7)Bb — lean on D (3)Half-step wiresD ↘ C# · C# → D · E → F · C ↘ B · B → C · F ↘ EAcross the borderno shared tonic tones with Bb — cut clean and re-land