Pachelbel progressions

Ukulele tutorials are normally full of Hawaiian hits, Beatles songs and barber shop standards. Disgrundled students might be interested in also other types of music to practice chord progessions on. Here is the perfect example: Pachelbel's Canon in D major.

Composed in late 17th century Germany, the Canon in D major uses a basso ostinato chord progression that is repeated again and again. This chord progression has influenced hundreds of later compositions - from the Bee Gees to Brian Eno and Ralph McTell. The formula is I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V when written as functions, or D-A-bm-f#m-G-D-G-A as chords. You can look up ukulele chord fingerings here.

The same piece has also been played in other keys. Using the function formula, it is a simple job to change which chords would be appropriate for each key.

G major:
  G-D-em-bm-C-G-C-D

C major:
  C-G-am-em-F-C-F-G

F major:
F-C-dm-am-Bb-F-Bb-C

E major:
E-B-c#m-g#m-A-E-A-B