Jazz · Advanced · major key

Rhythm changes bridge

III7 – III7 – VI7 – VI7 – II7 – II7 – V7 – V7 — Dominant chords marching around the circle of fifths, two bars each.

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 – III7 – VI7 – VI7 – II7 – II7 – V7 – V7 — in C major that is E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – G7 – G7. 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.

Rhythm changes bridge 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 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
• Ragtime circle (III7–VI7–II7–V7–I) III7 – VI7 – II7 – V7 – I
• iii–VI7–ii–V7 turnaround iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7
• Jazz blues I7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – ♯iv°7 – I7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7 – I7 – V7
• Rhythm changes A section Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7
• Montgomery-Ward bridge (I7–IV–II7–V) I7 – IV – II7 – V

← Imaj7–IVmaj7–iv6–Imaj7 · Imaj7–vi7–IVmaj7–V7 →

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