Chord Progression Practice – Swing and Jazz Style Easy Guitar Chords
In the key of D, the B chord (the VI) is usually a minor chord (B minor) but here it is substituted for a B7 chord. This gives the VI chord more power (7 chords are called “dominant” for a reason) and it pushes our ear towards the Em chord. This sound is found again and again in jazz music (Ragtime, Swing, Bebop and Dixieland styles) and is indicative of the style.
This chord progression’s use is not limited to jazz music of the early 20th century, though. Its influence has carried on throughout the years and has become a standard chord progression used by virtually any artist in any genre. Sometimes the B7 is kept as a B minor, which makes it sound a lot less jazzy, and helps the progression fit in various styles of music.
FREE PDF Songbook
Play 15 iconic songs on guitar — starting with just 2 chords
- Play your first complete song today – even as a total beginner
- Build real skills (chord switching, strumming, rhythm) through music you love
- Sound like a real guitarist from your very first practice session
You’ll find this chord progression used in the following songs. You may need to use a capo to change the key in order to play along to some of these:
- Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out – (famously recorded by) Eric Clapton
- Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen
- You Are Not Alone – Michael Jackson
- I Will – The Beatles
- I Got Rhythm – George Gershwin
Table of Contents
- Intro 0:00
- Chord Review – 0:53
- Downstrokes Play-Along – 1:39
- Chord Hand vs Strumming Hand – 2:55
- Strumming Pattern Play-along – 4:23
- Outro – 5:57
