Guitar · Level 8 · Advanced
The backdoor progression in F♯ major on Guitar
Don’t just read about The backdoor progression in F♯ major. Play it.
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The backdoor progression reaches I from ♭VII7 instead of V7, for a gentle, surprising resolution heard in jazz standards and soul.
Bm7
Notes: B · D · F♯ · A
E7
Notes: E · G♯ · B · D
F♯maj7
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E♯
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Bm7, E7 and F♯maj7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Press just behind the fret with your fingertips and keep the thumb relaxed behind the neck.
- Set the tempo to 69 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Notice how ♭VII7 resolves up by a whole step rather than down a fifth.
- Strum down on every beat at first, then try down–down–up–up–down–up.
- Raise the tempo to 92 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a soft landing on Imaj7 without the usual V7 tension.
Listen for
Aim for a soft landing on Imaj7 without the usual V7 tension. A common mistake is treating ♭VII7 as an ordinary V7.
Why it works
Both iv7 and ♭VII7 are borrowed from the parallel minor; together they act as a ii–V aimed at I from below.
F♯ major has 6 sharps; its relative minor key is D♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in iv7–♭VII7–Imaj7 in F♯ major?
In F♯ major the progression is Bm7 | E7 | F♯maj7 | F♯maj7.
What is the key signature of F♯ major?
F♯ major has 6 sharps. Its relative minor is D♯ minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 8 lesson (advanced). If it feels too hard, start with “Ninth chords”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
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