Ragtime · Intermediate · major key
Ragtime circle (III7–VI7–II7–V7–I)
III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 – I — Dominant 7th chords chained around the circle of fifths: vaudeville, ragtime and fingerstyle blues.
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 III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 – I — in C major that is E7 – A7 – D7 – G7 – C. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- III7 — a major chord where you expect minor: points strongly to vi.
- VI7 — a major VI — the "V of ii".
- II7 — a major II — the "V of V", brightening the way to V.
- V7 — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
- I — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
Ragtime circle (III7–VI7–II7–V7–I) in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | E7A7D7G7C | Looper |
| G major | B7E7A7D7G | Looper |
| D major | F#7B7E7A7D | Looper |
| A major | C#7F#7B7E7A | Looper |
| E major | G#7C#7F#7B7E | Looper |
| B major | D#7G#7C#7F#7B | Looper |
| F# major | A#7D#7G#7C#7F# | Looper |
| Db major | F7Bb7Eb7Ab7Db | Looper |
| Ab major | C7F7Bb7Eb7Ab | Looper |
| Eb major | G7C7F7Bb7Eb | Looper |
| Bb major | D7G7C7F7Bb | Looper |
| F major | A7D7G7C7F | 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
- Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
- Rhythm changes bridge III7 – III7 – VI7 – VI7 – II7 – II7 – V7 – V7
- I–III7–IV–V I – III7 – IV – V
- Country turnaround (I–I7–IV–II7–V7–I) I – I7 – IV – II7 – V7 – I
- Rhythm changes A section Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7
- Bossa ii9–V9–Imaj9–VI7 ii9 – V9 – Imaj9 – VI7
← Backdoor ii–V (iv7–♭VII7–I) · Major line cliché →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 – I progression?
In G major: B7 – E7 – A7 – D7 – G. In C major / A minor: E7 – A7 – D7 – G7 – C. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 – I on guitar?
G major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.