Chord and FretPop · axis — Cavaquinho
What is the Pop · axis progression?
The Pop · axis progression is C → G → AmAmAmAm → F (I – V – vi – IV), in the key of C. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → dominant → tonic → subdominant, cycling as a vamp with no full cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Play any song you love and it does this: leaves home, takes a walk, and at the right moment somebody yells "come back!". This progression is that route, road sign by road sign: C (I, home) → G (V, time to come back) → Am (vi, home) → F (IV, the stroll). Hit play and follow with your finger on the names — when you reach the chord marked "time to come back", notice your own body waiting for C — the home chord.
Cavaquinho
Its chords sound tight and punchy; instead of holding long shapes, it keeps the beat moving with short, repeated strums. In pop, rock or blues the cavaquinho is an unusual guest; it adds a bright, chopping rhythm layer, but it can't cover the low end a band expects. Its home chord C keeps its lowest note on E and rings 1 open string.
Circle of Fifths — See the key's diatonic chords and its secondary dominants · use it in Chord and Fret
Save this progression in Chord and Fret♪ The groove underneath is the tresillo: 3+3+2. Count "one-two-three, one-two-three, one-two" tapping your leg and you've found the engine of half the world's pop..
Reharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · try it in Chord and Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of C. In Chord and Fret, you open every position of all 4 chords in this progression along the neck — on any instrument, and hear each one. Open in Chord and Fret →
Metronome — Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · open in Chord and Fret
If you want to keep exploring, the Chord and Fret app picks up right here, with every chord and scale variation one tap away. On Google Play, today.