3 RHYTHM AND TIMING
Learn these commonplace chord progressions and jam night will be easy!
Great rhythm playing makes the difference between a good and a great performance – and with gigs looming, it’s a skill you must hone. For most rock and pop it’s more a matter of getting better at the basics (simple rhythms, strumming, and so on) rather than aiming at higher levels of virtuosity. Try our tab exercises and focus on delivering a fluid, even performance.
Alittle knowledge of chord progressions will help you jam along with songs you barely know. We’ll run through some basics in the key of C major here. Try playing the progressions as written in C, then see if you can work out the same sequences in another key, say G or A major. We’ll start with a look at the main chords found in C major. THE SEVEN PRINCIPAL CHORDS OF C MAJOR
1 I-IV-V (C-F-G)
The I-IV-V (one four five) is the undisputed champ of jam night chord progressions. E (E-A-B) and A (A-D-E) are common key signatures. Use dominant 7ths (E7, A7, etc) for a blues or rock ’n’ roll vibe.
2 II-V-I (DM7-G7-CMAJ7)
As heard in jazz standard Autumnleaves, this progression moves in 4th intervals (D to G is a 4th; G to C is too) often using 7th and 9th chord voicings. You can continue the sequence in 4ths through F, Bdim and so on.
3 VI-V-IV (AM-G-F)
Bob Dylan’s Allalongthewatchtower cycles through VI-V-IV-V chords. Dire Straits took a different tack in Sultansofswing, following the VI-V-IV with a dominant chord on the III. We’ll save you the theory.
4 V-IV-I (G-F-C)
The verse in GN’R’S Sweet Childo’mine is a classic example of this progression, taking the chords from the key of G major (D-C-G) and using the V chord (D) as the tonal centre.
5 I-V-VI-IV (C-G-AM-F)
Possibly the most used progression in all of rock and pop music, it’s essential knowledge for any musician. Bob Marley’s
Db Gb Nowoman,nocry is in (D -A -B ); more recently Taylor Swift used the progression in C in Champagneproblems.
6. I-VI-IV-V (C-AM-F-G)
This variant on the previous progression is often referred to as the 50s progression, thanks to its common usage at the time. Unchainedmelody by the Righteous Brothers is a classic example.