Jazz Up Your Ukulele: Mastering the I-VI-II-V Progression

chord progression chord progressions ukulele jazz ukulele Mar 26, 2025

Looking to add a little jazz flavor to your ukulele playing? Today’s lesson dives into one of the most iconic progressions in jazz music: the I-VI-II-V. But with a twist — we’re using all dominant 7 chords to give it that bluesy, vintage jazz vibe. Whether you’re a beginner ready to explore new sounds or an intermediate player looking to spice up your chord vocabulary, this one's for you.

Gear Check: What I’m Playing

Before we jump into the chords, a quick gear note — I’m using a concert ukulele with a high G string. That high G gives it that classic, old-timey sound that really suits jazz. Don’t worry if you have a low G — this progression sounds great either way.

The Chord Breakdown: I-VI-II-V with All Dominants

We’re in the key of C major, and here’s what we’re working with:

C7 – This is your I chord
A7 – The VI chord, usually minor, but here it’s dominant
D7 – The II chord, also typically minor, but again we’re using dominant
G7 – Your V chord, and already a dominant in most cases

So we get this jazzy sequence:
C7 → A7 → D7 → G7

This creates a circular, bluesy motion that’s super satisfying to play and listen to.

Rhythm & Groove

Let’s talk feel. The groove is everything in jazz — and it starts with your right hand. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Measure 1 (C7 to A7):
- Strum C7 on beats 1 and 2
- On beat 3, switch to A7 with a strong downstroke
Measure 2 (D7 to G7):
- Strum D7 on beat 1
- Palm mute on beat 2 (just lay your strumming hand lightly on the strings before you strum)
- On the "and" of 2, strum G7 with an upstroke
- Tie that chord over to beat 3, then strum again

Now try putting those two bars together — nice and easy.

The Cool Ending

Once you’ve got the main progression down, here comes the fun part: the jazzy ending.

You’ll add:

A diminished chord, played using all four fingers — don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks.
A G/B chord – think of it like a G chord, but with a B note emphasized.
A barre C chord to finish, strummed with an upstroke and left ringing out.

The full ending sequence adds color and a sense of resolution to the progression. Play the main progression three times, then tag on this ending to complete your jazzy loop.

Practice Makes Progress

Start slow. Get those chord shapes under your fingers. Feel the rhythm. Then, as you get more confident, bump up the tempo. In the video, we do a slow version first — then a slightly faster one where you follow along by ear. That’s intentional! It trains you to listen, react, and feel the music instead of just reading it.

And remember:

“There’s no secret here — you’ve just got to practice. Get these chords memorized, feel out that right hand groove, and it’ll come together.”

Watch the Full Lesson

If you haven’t already, check out the full video lesson for a visual breakdown of everything above — plus a demo of how it all sounds when played together. You'll get the rhythm, fingerings, and a real-time jam session vibe.

👉 Watch the Video: Jazz Ukulele Lesson | I - VI - II - V Chord Progression

Final Thoughts

Jazzing up your ukulele playing doesn't have to be complicated — and the I-VI-II-V progression is the perfect place to start. With dominant chords, a fun groove, and a tasty little ending, you’ve now got a new tool in your uke toolkit.

So grab your uke, tune up, and get jazzy with it!