Ukulele · Level 9 · Expert
The jazz blues in A major on Ukulele
Don’t just read about The jazz blues in A major. Play it.
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The jazz blues dresses the 12-bar form with ii–Vs, a passing diminished chord and a turnaround. It is the first form most jazz players learn to solo over.
A7
Notes: A · C♯ · E · G
D7
Notes: D · F♯ · A · C
D♯dim7
Notes: D♯ · F♯ · A · C
F♯7
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E
Bm7
Notes: B · D · F♯ · A
E7
Notes: E · G♯ · B · D
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: A7, D7, D♯dim7, F♯7, Bm7 and E7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Use light pressure; the ukulele's nylon strings need far less force than steel.
- Set the tempo to 75 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Learn it four bars at a time, then connect the sections at tempo.
- Strum down on every beat, then add an up-strum between beats with a loose wrist.
- Raise the tempo to 100 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for how each new chord leads into the next by step or by fifth.
Listen for
Aim for how each new chord leads into the next by step or by fifth. A common mistake is dropping the two-chord bars at the end of the form.
Why it works
Bars 8–10 form a chain of dominant resolutions: VI7 → ii7 → V7, borrowed from the circle of fifths.
A major has 3 sharps; its relative minor key is F♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I7–IV7–I7–VI7–ii7–V7 in A major?
In A major the progression is A7 | D7 | A7 | A7 | D7 | D♯dim7 | A7 | F♯7 | Bm7 | E7 | A7 F♯7 | Bm7 E7.
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 9 lesson (expert). If it feels too hard, start with “Tritone substitution”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
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