Chord & FretJazz · rhythm changes (A section) — Guitar
What is the Jazz · rhythm changes (A section) progression?
The Jazz · rhythm changes (A section) progression is C → Am → Dm → G (I – vi – ii – V), in the key of C. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → tonic → subdominant → dominant, arriving home on a cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Good music works like a good walk: you leave, get a little lost on purpose, and come back. The map of this one: C (I, home) → Am (vi, home) → Dm (ii, the stroll) → G (V, time to come back). Press play and follow along — at the "time to come back" chord, notice the physical urge to hear C again — the home chord.
Guitar
On the acoustic guitar you hold the whole song in your hands: the low sixth string lays down a bass note while the higher strings build the chord above it. In gypsy jazz the acoustic guitar is the star, both the pumping rhythm and the fast lead; in mainstream swing it settles comfortably into the backing chords behind the soloist. Its home chord C keeps its lowest note on C and rings 2 open strings.
Cadences — Harmony comes to rest here — hear every cadence type and train your ear · see it in Chord & Fret
Save this progression in Chord & FretReharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · use it in Chord & Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of C. In Chord & Fret, you open every position of all 4 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 · try it in Chord & Fret
Next level, no mystery: in the Chord & Fret app you hear, see and play every position — on your phone, via the stores.