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Chord & Fret

Jazz — Ukulele

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. Sophistication meets freedom: jazz pairs rich harmony with improvisation, so the same song never sounds the same twice. Here you'll find the ii-V-I — best understood as the genre's most-used three-chord chain — and the A section of rhythm changes, a short cycle that underpins countless tunes.

Progressions

ii-V-I rhythm changes (A section)

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