Slow Burn · R&B / Soul
Gmaj7 · Bm7 · Cmaj7 · D7
Imaj7 · iii7 · IVmaj7 · V7 in the key of G
Every chord here is a seventh chord. That extra note keeps each one sounding a little unfinished, so the progression flows from one chord to the next without ever fully settling. That’s the smooth, easy sound soul ballads are built on.
Four bars of slow burn in the key of G, written Imaj7 · iii7 · IVmaj7 · V7 and played let it ring over a half-time groove at around 72 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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What the chords are
This is Imaj7 · iii7 · IVmaj7 · V7 in the key of G. The degree of each chord is what makes the progression recognisable in any key, so the same four moves transpose anywhere once you know them by number.
- Gmaj7 Imaj7 up at the 5th fret, spanning to the 7th, on 4 strings
- Bm7 iii7 at the 7th fret, on 4 strings
- Cmaj7 IVmaj7 up at the 8th fret, spanning to the 9th, on 4 strings
- D7 V7 up at the 7th fret, spanning to the 8th, on 4 strings
How it should feel
- Strum
- Let it ring
- Groove
- Half-time
- Tempo
- 72 bpm
- Key
- G
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gmaj7 | × | × | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Bm7 | × | × | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Cmaj7 | × | × | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| D7 | × | × | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
More R&B / Soul
- Am7 · D7 i7 · IV7 in A · Dorian Vamp
- A · D I · IV in A · Sweet Soul Vamp
- A · F#m7 · D · E7 I · vi7 · IV · V7 in A · Motown Move
- Amaj7 · C#m7 · Dmaj7 · E7 Imaj7 · iii7 · IVmaj7 · V7 in A · Slow Burn
Posted . Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.