Chord & FretPop · axis — Guitar
What is the Pop · axis progression?
The Pop · axis progression is C → G → Am → F (I – V – vi – IV), in the key of C. 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.
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: C (I, home) → G (V, time to come back) → Am (vi, home) → F (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 C — 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. From campfire pop to rock ballads and blues, the acoustic guitar is the default choice, whether you strum full chords or pick out a quiet verse. Its home chord C keeps its lowest note on C and rings 2 open strings.
Circle of Fifths — See the key's diatonic chords and its secondary dominants · use it in Chord & Fret
Save this progression in Chord & Fret♪ The groove underneath is the tresillo: 3+3+2. Count "one-two-three, one-two-three, one-two" tapping your leg and you've found the engine of half the world's pop..
Reharmonize — 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 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 · open in Chord & Fret
When you're ready to go from reading to playing, the Chord & Fret app puts this fretboard interactive in your hand — available on the app stores.