Sears Roebuck Bridge (III7 VI7 II7 V7)
The Sears Roebuck bridge is the chord progression III7-VI7-II7-V7. In the key of C major it is E7 A7 D7 G7, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 3(7) 6(7) 2(7) 5(7).
It is also known as Rhythm bridge, rhythm changes bridge, ragtime progression.
Chords from outside the key of C major: E7, A7, D7.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Four dominant chords fall by fifths, each one acting as the V of the next, until V7 leads back to I. Because every chord is a dominant, no key is confirmed until the end, which gives the bridge its restless lift. In rhythm changes each chord lasts two bars.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Sandman | The Chordettes | verse | G#(7) C#7 F#(7) B(7) E(7) A | A major |
| I Got Rhythm | George Gershwin | bridge | D7 | G7 | C7 | F7 | Bb major |
Sears Roebuck Bridge: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- Tritone substitution cadence: Dm7 Db7 Cmaj7
- Tadd Dameron turnaround: Cmaj7 Eb7 Ab7 Db7
- Take the A Train changes: Cmaj7 D7 Dm7 G7
- Girl from Ipanema changes: Cmaj7 D7 Dm7 Db7
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the Sears Roebuck bridge in each key?
In C major: E7 A7 D7 G7. In G major: B7 E7 A7 D7. In D major: F#7 B7 E7 A7. In A major: C#7 F#7 B7 E7. In E major: G#7 C#7 F#7 B7.
Which songs use the Sears Roebuck bridge?
Songs that use it include Mr. Sandman by The Chordettes, I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin.
