The Big Climb · Rock
D · C · G · D
I · ♭VII · IV in the key of D
The classic-rock lift. Dropping a whole step and then climbing back is what makes a chorus sound like it opens up.
Four bars of the big climb in the key of D, written I · ♭VII · IV and played driving 8ths over a backbeat groove at around 126 beats per minute. The chord shapes are below, and you can hear the whole thing play — and slow it down — without an account.
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How it should feel
- Strum
- Driving 8ths
- Groove
- Backbeat
- Tempo
- 126 bpm
- Key
- D
- Voicings
- Glue
The smallest possible movement between chords. The voices barely leave their seats.
The shapes
Low E on the left, high e on the right. 0 is an open string, × is one you do not play.
| Chord | E | A | D | G | B | e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | × | × | × | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| C | × | × | × | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| G | × | × | × | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| D | × | × | × | 2 | 3 | 2 |
More Rock
Posted . Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.