Sertanejo pop axis progression on ukulele
What is the Sertanejo pop axis progression?
The Sertanejo 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.
Good music works like a good walk: you leave, get a little lost on purpose, and come back. The map of this one: G (I, home) → D (V, time to come back) → Em (vi, home) → C (IV, the stroll). Press play and follow along — at the "time to come back" chord, notice the physical urge to hear G again — the home chord.
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. Brazilian styles are not the ukulele's home turf: it can carry a gentle bossa nova, but the percussive drive of samba, choro and pagode asks for more bite and low-end punch than its soft nylon strings can give. 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 · open in Chord and Fret
Save this progression in Chord and Fret♪ The groove is the waltz — three beats to the bar: the bass on one and the chord on two and three, the lilt of the sertanejo and caipira tradition.
Reharmonize: 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