Jazz · Intermediate · major key
Major line cliché
I – I+ – I6 – I7 — One chord, with a single note climbing a half step at a time — instant movement on a static chord.
Chord shapes in G 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 – I+ – I6 – I7 — in C major that is C – Caug – C6 – C7. 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.
Major line cliché in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | CCaugC6C7 | Looper |
| G major | GGaugG6G7 | Looper |
| D major | DDaugD6D7 | Looper |
| A major | AAaugA6A7 | Looper |
| E major | EEaugE6E7 | Looper |
| B major | BBaugB6B7 | Looper |
| F# major | F#F#augF#6F#7 | Looper |
| Db major | DbDbaugDb6Db7 | Looper |
| Ab major | AbAbaugAb6Ab7 | Looper |
| Eb major | EbEbaugEb6Eb7 | Looper |
| Bb major | BbBbaugBb6Bb7 | Looper |
| F major | FFaugF6F7 | Looper |
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 G 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 G major pentatonic or G 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
- Jazz ii–V–I ii7 – V7 – Imaj7
- Imaj7–I6 vamp Imaj7 – I6 – Imaj7 – I6
- Circle progression (vi–ii–V–I) vi – ii – V – I
- ii–V–I–IV ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – IVmaj7
- Imaj7–vi7–ii7–V7 Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7
- I6–vi7 swing vamp I6 – vi7 – ii7 – V7
← Ragtime circle (III7–VI7–II7–V7–I) · Neo-soul ii9–V9–Imaj9 →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the I – I+ – I6 – I7 progression?
In G major: G – Gaug – G6 – G7. In C major / A minor: C – Caug – C6 – C7. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I – I+ – I6 – I7 on guitar?
G major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.