Chord progressions

terencej

Hi guys, so here is my first question.

How do I work out a chord progression? I have seen lots of cheat sheets with chord progressions on them but I want to know how they are formed.

Thanx,
Cheers

V8

I probably do not understand the question (give us a example of what you are thinking please?)

Annndd there are many here who have a far better grasp on theory than I do...but for what it's worth.

1. A chord is derived from a scale. E.g. C Major chord = 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the C Major scale. (C, E , G)

If you want to figure out what other chords you could play in a C Major progression, you could "harmonize" the C Major Scale which means C Maj, D min, E min, F Maj, G Maj, A min, B dim could all work in that progression and be in the key of C and retain the Major feel (I think of it as happy/nursery rhyme-y).

Here's a link to a example : http://www.coniferguitar.com/Scales_for_guitar/page56/page58/Charmonizedscale.html

We did a challenge a while ago using the "axis of awesome" comedy sketch as a basis. Basically four chords typically featured in pop music : here's a reddiit article that explains the theory behind it (far better than I will ever be able to) - https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ekl67/

2. If you are playing blues (minor progression), then a simple 8/12 bar progression (regardless of the key) would use the 1st (or I), 4th (IV) and 5th (V) notes of the scale as the chords of the progression. Hence a 8/12 bar blues often referred to as I-IV-V.

So in the key of C it would be C, F, G chords in the progression.

Also called the money chords (in pop) ?

Hasie

What V8 said.

Here is some more info. It might not make sense, but it is some of my own reference notes.
I have a PDF with this. I can email it to you. PM me your e-mail. But I would recommend doing music theory.

Basics:
The full chromatic scale is: C – C#/Db – D – D#/Eb – E – F – F#/Gb – A – A#/Bb – B – C
# is a sharp, b is flat.
C Scale is the most basic scale and is C D E F G A B C

Scale Calculations:
- Calculating Sharps:
Always start at the key of C.
Make it the first note and count to the fifth note. In the case of C it will be G. Then subtract a semi-tone from this note. Thus, the key of G will have F#.
For the next key, start at G and count to the fifth,. It is D. Subtract semi-tone. It is C#. The key of D thus had F# and C#.

The shortcut way is to learn the following:
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Take the first letter as a note and add a note (degree) to it. Example F’s next note will be G. That means the key of G will have an F#. If you take “Goes”, the next note will be A. The key of A therefore has an F#, C# and G#.

- Calculating Flats:
Always start at C.
Make it the first note and count to the fourth. In the case of C, it will be F. This will be the key(scale) you are calculating the flat for. Count another for starting with the fourth of the previous count. so for F, it will be B. Flatten that. So the key(scale) of F has a B flat.

The shortcut way is to learn the following:
Batlle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Take the first letter as a note and subtract four notes(degress) from it. So for B, it will be F. This means the key of F has a B flat. If you take “And”, the note calculated will be E. E is already flattened with “Ends”, so you will calculate the E flat scale. So E flat will have a B flat, E Flat and A flat.

------

Calculating Major Scales:
Use the following pattern:
Tone – Tone – Semi-tone – Tone Separator – Tone – Tone – Semi-tone
Examples:
C – D – E – F – G – A – B - C
A – B – C# - D – E – F# - G# - A

Calculating Minor Natural Scale:
Use the following pattern:
Tone – Semi-tone – Tone – Tone – Semi-tone – Tone – Tone
Examples:
A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A
G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G

Calculating Minor Harmonic Scale:
Take the natural minor scale and sharpen the 7th note.

Calculating Minor Melodic Scale:
Take the natural minor scale and sharpen the 6th and 7th notes when going up (higher) and return to their natural form when going down (lower).

Relative Scales:
A relative scale is a minor scale which has the same notes as a major scale or a major scale which has the same notes as a minor scale. Subtract three semi-tones (half notes)/4th interval down from the major scale to get its relative minor. C minus 3 semi-tones/4th interval down is A. So A minor is the relative of C. Which means, chords in A minor can be played with C major.

Intervals (Degrees) and Chords:
A key or scale has 8 degrees.
The first degree is always the root note of the scale or key.
The chords at the first, fourth and fifth intervals, are Primary Chords. The others are secondary chords.
A perfect chord consists of a root, major third and perfect fifth interval.
A major chord consists of a root, minor third and perfect fifth.
A seventh chord (which is usually on the fifth degree), consists of a root, major third, perfect fifth and a minor seventh note.
A diminished chord (which is usually on the seventh degree) consists of a root, minor third and diminished(minor) fifth.

A major note or chord is so referred to because it falls in the normal sequence of T-T-S-TS-T-T-S.

A Perfect note or chord is a Major note or chord, but is on the 1st, 4th or 5th interval.
Example (Key of C):
1st: C (CEG – Perfect)
2nd: Dm (DFA – Major. F semi-tone down)
3rd: Em (EGB – Major. G semi-tone down)
4th: F (FAC – Perfect)
5th: G7 (GBDF – Perfect because fifth degree, although F semi-tone down)
5th: G (GBD)
6th: Am (ACE – Major. C semi-tone down)
7th: Bdim (BDF – Major. D semi-tone down. F semi-tone down.)
8th: C

Stoffeltoo

Thanks for the theory lesson Hasie. Starting to make more sense now

terencej

Ok, halve the the info I actually understand now. The other halve I have to read again.

Thanx guys, this was exactly what I wanted. Much appreciated.

Hasie

Pleasure. Please ask questikns regardibg the content, if unclear or for whatever reason, and I will answer to the best of my knowledge.

I-M-Biased

I found the following book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Composition" most helpful and clearly written. Available at most Exclusive Books branches. It takes you through all the progression permutations etc ...... with solid music theory.