Folk pop axis progression on ukulele
What is the Folk pop axis progression?
The Folk 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.
Ukulele
With only four short strings and no bass note, the ukulele lives in a bright, high register; it sketches the chords and leaves the low end to a voice or another instrument. This is where the ukulele truly belongs: the Hawaiian vamp — a short back-and-forth of chords — is its native language, and its airy strum sits perfectly in folk sing-alongs, easygoing reggae and gentle country. Its home chord G keeps its lowest note on D and rings 1 open string.
Circle of Fifths: See the key's diatonic chords and its secondary dominants · 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 · 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 · try it in Chord and Fret