Jazz rhythm changes (A section) progression on 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.
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
Its six strings spread across a wide neck, so each chord has room to ring, and one player can be the rhythm and the harmony at the same time. 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 cadences on the neck, 9 free and another one each week · use 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