Sertanejo pop axis progression on cavaquinho
What is the Sertanejo pop axis progression?
The Sertanejo pop axis progression is G, D, EmEmEmEm and C (I–V–vi–IV), in the key of G major. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → dominant → tonic → subdominant, cycling as a vamp with no full cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Four chords, a whole story: G (I, home) → D (V, time to come back) → Em (vi, home) → C (IV, the stroll). Hit play. First pass, just listen. Second pass, follow with your finger on the names — and notice that by the second-to-last chord, your body already knows G — home — is coming.
Cavaquinho
Its chords sound tight and punchy; instead of holding long shapes, it keeps the beat moving with short, repeated strums. This is the cavaquinho's true home: in samba, choro and pagode it is the rhythmic and harmonic center, driving the groove with bright, percussive chords. Its home chord G keeps its lowest note on G.
Circle of Fifths: See the key's diatonic chords and its secondary dominants · try it in Chord and Fret
Save this progression in Chord and Fret♪ The groove is the waltz — three beats to the bar: the bass on one and the chord on two and three, the lilt of the sertanejo and caipira tradition.
Reharmonize: Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize's Subtle and Medium levels are free; Bold and Jazz are part of Pro · use it in Chord and Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of G. In the app, every chord in this progression comes with its other shapes and audio, free. Open in Chord and Fret →
Metronome: Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · see it in Chord and Fret