Mandolin · Level 8 · Advanced
The backdoor progression in A major on Mandolin
Don’t just read about The backdoor progression in A 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.
Dm7
Notes: D · F · A · C
G7
Notes: G · B · D · F
Amaj7
Notes: A · C♯ · E · G♯
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Dm7, G7 and Amaj7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Mandolin frets are close together, so reach with the fingertips and press each pair of strings evenly.
- 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, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- 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.
A major has 3 sharps; its relative minor key is F♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in iv7–♭VII7–Imaj7 in A major?
In A major the progression is Dm7 | G7 | Amaj7 | Amaj7.
What is the key signature of A major?
A major has 3 sharps. Its relative minor is F♯ 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.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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