I-VI-II-V Progression

Here is one of the more standard chord progressions. Changing the minor sixth chord to a dominant seventh is common, but for this exercise, let’s keep the sixth within the tonic so as to make for an easier time improvising.

So, you can play a G major scale exclusively throughout this progression. Just be aware of those common tones listed below, and realize that there is a reason G is last in the priority of those tones. The tonic of major seventh chord is not its best sounding note.

The concert notation is below. Click here for Bb instruments and here for Eb instruments. Once open on a desktop computer, click the pop-up and a second time to expand the image.