Classical · Intermediate · major key

I–vii°–I passing

I – vii° – I – IV — A diminished chord neighbouring the tonic — classical part-writing.

Chord shapes in D major (standard tuning)

Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.

How the chords work

Written in Roman numerals, this progression is I – vii° – I – IV — in C major that is C – Bdim – C – F. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.

• I — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
• vii° — a tense diminished chord that leads strongly to I.
• IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.

I–vii°–I passing in all 12 keys

Practice ideas

• Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
• Change keys with a capo: keep the D major shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
• Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the D major pentatonic or D major scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
• Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.

Similar progressions

• Major circle of fifths I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I
• Deceptive cadence (V–vi) I – IV – V – vi
• Pachelbel's Canon progression I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V
• Perfect cadence (V–I) IV – V – I – I
• I–IV–V7–I I – IV – V7 – I
• Half cadence (ends on V) I – vi – IV – V

← I–III7–IV–V · Lydian I–II–IV–I →

← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one

Questions