diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c9abe62..78e2b8d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ Immutable, validated musical value types plus an analysis layer that models harm
 ```csharp
 using ktsu.Semantics.Music;
 
-Progression prog = Progression.Parse("| Dm7 | G7 | Cmaj7 |");
+Progression prog = Progression.Parse("4/4  Dm7 / / / | G7 / / / | Cmaj7 / / /");
 Key key = prog.InferKey()!;                             // C major
 IReadOnlyList<string> roman = prog.RomanNumerals(key);  // ii7, V7, Imaj7
 
diff --git a/Semantics.Test/Music/ReadmeExampleTests.cs b/Semantics.Test/Music/ReadmeExampleTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e38e36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Semantics.Test/Music/ReadmeExampleTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023-2026 ktsu-dev contributors
+
+namespace ktsu.Semantics.Test.Music;
+
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+
+using ktsu.Semantics.Music;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Checks the music examples in the READMEs against the library, so that an example a reader copies
+/// from the package's front page runs.
+/// </summary>
+[TestClass]
+public partial class ReadmeExampleTests
+{
+	private static readonly string[] Readmes = ["Root.md", "Music.md"];
+	private static readonly string[] RootExampleNumerals = ["ii7", "V7", "Imaj7"];
+
+	private static string ReadmeDirectory => Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "Readmes");
+
+	[GeneratedRegex("""Progression\.Parse\("([^"]*)"\)""")]
+	private static partial Regex ProgressionLiteral();
+
+	private static string[] ProgressionLiterals(string readme) =>
+		[.. ProgressionLiteral().Matches(File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(ReadmeDirectory, readme))).Select(match => match.Groups[1].Value)];
+
+	[TestMethod]
+	public void EveryProgressionLiteralInTheReadmesParses()
+	{
+		foreach (string readme in Readmes)
+		{
+			string[] literals = ProgressionLiterals(readme);
+			Assert.IsNotEmpty(literals, readme);
+
+			foreach (string literal in literals)
+			{
+				Assert.IsTrue(Progression.TryParse(literal, out _), $"{readme}: \"{literal}\"");
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	[TestMethod]
+	public void RootReadmeMusicExample_GivesTheOutputsItsCommentsShow()
+	{
+		Progression prog = Progression.Parse(ProgressionLiterals("Root.md")[0]);
+
+		Key? key = prog.InferKey();
+		Assert.IsNotNull(key);
+		Assert.AreEqual(0, key.Tonic.Value);
+		Assert.AreEqual(Mode.Major, key.Mode);
+		Assert.AreSequenceEqual(RootExampleNumerals, prog.RomanNumerals(key));
+	}
+}
diff --git a/Semantics.Test/Semantics.Test.csproj b/Semantics.Test/Semantics.Test.csproj
index c9919f9..ff25bfd 100644
--- a/Semantics.Test/Semantics.Test.csproj
+++ b/Semantics.Test/Semantics.Test.csproj
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@
           CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <!-- The READMEs' code examples are checked against the library, so a parser change that breaks
+         one fails a test instead of reaching the package's front page. -->
+    <None Include="..\README.md" Link="Readmes\Root.md" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
+    <None Include="..\Semantics.Music\README.md" Link="Readmes\Music.md" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
   <!-- The generator bundles its dependencies alongside itself so that they are present when a
        compiler loads it as an analyzer. This project loads it as an ordinary assembly instead, so
        that bundle arrives as compile references it did not ask for, and the netstandard2.0 builds