Jazz rhythm changes (A section) progression on electric guitar
What is the Jazz rhythm changes (A section) progression?
The Jazz rhythm changes (A section) progression is C, Am, DmDmDmDm and G (I–vi–ii–V), in the key of C major. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → tonic → subdominant → dominant, arriving home on a cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Four chords, a whole story: C (I, home) → Am (vi, home) → Dm (ii, the stroll) → G (V, time to come back). 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 C — home — is coming.
Electric guitar
The amplified tone holds each chord for a long time, so a few well-chosen notes keep ringing on their own while you leave room for the rest of the group. The warm hollow-body electric is a classic jazz voice, ideal for the rich chords that back a soloist in swing, though gypsy jazz keeps to its bright acoustic sound. Its home chord C keeps its lowest note on C and rings 2 open strings.
Cadences: Harmony comes to rest here: hear cadences on the neck, 9 free and another one each week · see it in Chord and Fret
Save this progression in Chord and FretReharmonize: Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize's Subtle and Medium levels are free; Bold and Jazz are part of Pro · open in Chord and Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of C. 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 · try it in Chord and Fret