Chord & FretJazz · rhythm changes (A section) — Ukulele
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.
Ukulele
Its fourth string is tuned higher than you would expect, so a chord's notes bunch close together instead of spreading from low to high, giving that clear, chiming sound. The ukulele has a real jazz streak from the swing era, and its close, clustered chords suit cheerful backing; just remember it colours the harmony rather than anchoring it, since there is no bass note underneath. Its home chord C keeps its lowest note on C and rings 3 open strings.
Cadences — Harmony comes to rest here — hear every cadence type and train your ear · open in Chord & Fret
Save this progression in Chord & FretReharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · try 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 · use it in Chord & Fret
Want this in any key, no math? In the Chord & Fret app you drag and the whole neck rewrites itself — App Store and Google Play.