Pop · Intermediate · major key

Secondary dominant (I–II7–IV–I)

I – II7 – IV – I — The II7 borrows a "V of V" for a bright lift before IV.

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 – II7 – IV – I — in C major that is C – D7 – F – C. 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.
• II7 — a major II — the "V of V", brightening the way to V.
• IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.

Secondary dominant (I–II7–IV–I) 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

• I–II7–IV–I I – II7 – IV – I
• I–V–ii–IV I – V – ii – IV
• I–III7–IV–V I – III7 – IV – V
• Falling IV–iii–ii–I IV – iii – ii – I
• I–III7–vi–IV I – III7 – vi – IV
• vi–iii–IV–I vi – iii – IV – I

← Rhythm changes A section · I–III7–vi–IV →

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Questions