Chord & FretRock · blues frame — Ukulele
What is the Rock · blues frame progression?
The Rock · blues frame progression is E → A → B (I – IV – V), in the key of E. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → subdominant → dominant, arriving home on a 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: E (I, home) → A (IV, the stroll) → B (V, time to come back). 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 E — 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. For bright pop songs and gentle ballads the ukulele fits like a glove, adding an airy sparkle; heavier rock, blues and funk want the punch and bass it simply does not have. Its home chord E keeps its lowest note on E.
Cadences — Harmony comes to rest here — hear every cadence type and train your ear · try it in Chord & Fret
Save this progression in Chord & FretReharmonize — 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 E. In Chord & Fret, you open every position of all 3 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
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