Mike Moxcey ©2005

The Ragtime Progression

One other common chord progression is based on the Circle of Fifths. Many ragtime songs or songs with a ragtime feel will have a chord progression similar to this one somewhere in the song:

Key of C: C E A A7 D7 G7 C

Key of D: D F# B B7 E7 A7 D

Key of G: G B E E7 A7 D7 G

Key of A: A C# F# F#7 B7 E7 A

Play around with these progressions a little bit to see how they sound. Some familiar songs may jump out at you. Here are a couple full progressions that sound like complete songs or at least verses or choruses to songs. 

Key of C: C E A A7 D7 G7 C G7

          C E A A7 D7 / G7 /

          C / / C7 F / / F7

          C E A A7 D7 G7 C /


Key of D: D F# B B7 E7 A7 D A7

          D F# B B7 E7 / A7 /

          D / / D7 G / / G7

          D F# B B7 E7 A7 D /


Key of G: G B E E7 A7 D7 G D7

          G B E E7 A7 / D7 /

          G / / G7 C / / C7

          G B E E7 A7 D7 G /


Key of A: A C# F# F#7 B7 E7 A E7

          A C# F# F#7 B7 / E7 /

          A / / A7 D / / D7

          A C# F# F#7 B7 E7 A /

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