Chord & FretReggae · vamp maior — Cavaquinho
What is the Reggae · vamp maior progression?
The Reggae · vamp maior progression is A → D (I – IV), in the key of A. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → subdominant, cycling as a vamp with no full cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Play any song you love and it does this: leaves home, takes a walk, and at the right moment somebody yells "come back!". This progression is that route, road sign by road sign: A (I, home) → D (IV, the stroll). Hit play and follow with your finger on the names — when you reach the chord marked "time to come back", notice your own body waiting for A — the home chord.
Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small, bright four-string with no low bass, so it fills the upper-middle range and leaves the deep notes to others. Outside Brazil the cavaquinho is a newcomer to these styles, but its short, percussive strums fit reggae's off-beat chop nicely and add a thin, bright layer. Its home chord A keeps its lowest note on E.
Circle of Fifths — See the key's diatonic chords and its secondary dominants · try it in Chord & Fret
Save this progression in Chord & FretReharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · see it in Chord & Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of A. In Chord & Fret, you open every position of all 2 chords in this progression along the neck — on any instrument, and hear each one. Open in Chord & Fret →
Metronome — Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · use it in Chord & Fret
When you're ready to go from reading to playing, the Chord & Fret app puts all of this interactive in your hand — available on the app stores.