Improvising on the Circle of Fifths: “Sweet Georgia Brown”

from: Theory for Mandolin and Fiddle with Chad Manning

This lesson is part of the course Theory for Mandolin and Fiddle with Chad Manning.

Get immediate access to this lesson and all of the lessons in this course when you subscribe.

Start Course
Browse Courses

About This Course

Learn the basics of music theory as it relates to four-string instruments tuned in fifths. Chad’s practical approach will deepen your knowledge of chords, scales, and arpeggios, and help you integrate them into your playing.

Try a Sample Lesson

Major Chord Arpeggios

Learn how major chord arpeggios are constructed and how to find them on the mandolin/fiddle fingerboard. Chad explains that major chords are constructed of roots, thirds, and fifths: the first, third, and fifth notes in a major scale. Then he shows you different finger patterns for major arpeggios in bluegrass keys, giving you handy ways to visualize each pattern and advice about practicing them in different ways.

Try a sample lesson

The Theory for Mandolin and Fiddle Subscription Includes:

In-depth instruction on chord and scale theory for instruments tuned in fifths
More than 40 practical, hands-on theory lessons designed specifically for fiddlers and mandolinists
Notation and mandolin tablature for every lesson
Lessons on improvising and soloing using different tonalities and arpeggios
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action.
Play-Along Tracks so you can practice what you’ve learned

$20/Month For One Course

Additional courses only $10/month each! • Save 20% with an annual subscription

Start Course

Get started now!
Use promo code ChadLand at checkout

and get your first month free or $20 off an annual subscription.

Improvising on the Circle of Fifths: “Sweet Georgia Brown”

Circle of Fifths Practice Track

Improvising on the Circle of Fifths: “Sweet Georgia Brown”

The trad jazz standard “Sweet Georgia Brown” is a great tune for practicing improvising on circle-of-fifths progressions. Traditionally played in the key of F, the chord progression for the first half of “Sweet Georgia Brown” consists of four bars each of D7–G7–C7–F, giving you ample time to practice your dominant scales on each chord. Chad begins by showing you the melody to “Sweet Georgia Brown,” and then gives you an exercise outlining dominant-nine arpeggios for D7, G7, and C7. He finishes by showing you how he would improvise on the progressions using only the notes in the arpeggios.

"Sweet Georgia Brown" and Examples (Available to subscribers)

Previous Lesson

← Improvising in D Modal

Next Lesson

Circle of Fifths Practice Track →

Previous Lesson

← Improvising in D Modal

Next Lesson

Circle of Fifths Practice Track →

Previous Lesson

← Improvising in D Modal

Next Lesson

Circle of Fifths Practice Track →

Mandolin Articles

Learn to improvise on fiddle tunes, create new melodies over chord changes, practice the arpeggios and scales you need to play jazz tunes, and more with Joe K. Walsh in this eight-week live workshop.

Mandolin Videos

Joe K. Walsh and John Mailander: “Cold, Cold Heart”

Peghead Nation mandolin instructor plays a Hank Williams classic with bluegrass fiddler and multi-instrumentalist John Mailander on octave mandolin.