bandcoach
Zukatoku - Mod Scientist
Chord Progressions in the Major - some tips and tricks
Generating chord progression in any major key
Based on the idea that
We can create chord progressions that continuously change and move, like so:
I-V-vi-ii-viib5-iii-ii-V-I
rendered in c major this would be
C-G-Am-Dm-Bm[sup]b5[/sup]-Em-Dm-G-C
[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/chordProgMaj-01.mp3[/mp3]
This is a one dimensional approach to chord progression generation, and could be extended by moving to a new key area at each new chord or every other chord:
C:I-V-G:vi-ii-D:viib5-iii-F:ii-V-I
[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/chordProgMaj-02.mp3[/mp3]
A further way in which we could create progressions is to use each new chord as a starting point in a different key are:
C major is chord I in C major, chord IV in G major and chord V in F major
Treating the appearance of a C major chord as if it occupied one of those 3 alternatives leads to many new possible continuations:
[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/chordProgMaj-03.mp3[/mp3]
The above analysis treats the C major chord as if it were chord I in each case, ignoring the borrowings from other scales/keys.
We could do this for any major chord or any minor chord.
We could also use other substitution types
The following tables show each of the chords in a given key and the chords that they move to according to our original table.
Ab
A
B[sup]b[/sup]
B
C
C[sup]#[/sup]
D[sup]b[/sup]
D
E[sup]b[/sup]
E
F
F[sup]#[/sup]
G[sup]b[/sup]
G
E[sup]##[/sup] = F[sup]#[/sup]
A[sup]##[/sup] = B
E[sup]#[/sup] = F
B[sup]#[/sup] = C
C[sup]b[/sup] = B
F[sup]b[/sup] = E
Generating chord progression in any major key
Based on the idea that
Chord | Goes to |
I | any chord |
ii | IV, V, vii[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | ii, IV, vi |
IV | I, iii, V, vii[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | I, vi, IV |
vi | ii, IV, V, I |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | I, iii |
We can create chord progressions that continuously change and move, like so:
I-V-vi-ii-viib5-iii-ii-V-I
rendered in c major this would be
C-G-Am-Dm-Bm[sup]b5[/sup]-Em-Dm-G-C
[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/chordProgMaj-01.mp3[/mp3]
This is a one dimensional approach to chord progression generation, and could be extended by moving to a new key area at each new chord or every other chord:
C:I-V-G:vi-ii-D:viib5-iii-F:ii-V-I
C major | G major | D major | F major |
I-V- | vi-ii | vii[sup]b5[/sup]-iii- | ii-V-I |
C-G- | Em-Am- | C[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup]-F[sup]#[/sup]m- | Gm-C-F |
[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/chordProgMaj-02.mp3[/mp3]
A further way in which we could create progressions is to use each new chord as a starting point in a different key are:
C major is chord I in C major, chord IV in G major and chord V in F major
Treating the appearance of a C major chord as if it occupied one of those 3 alternatives leads to many new possible continuations:
Analysis | Rendered | Notation | Analysis | Rendered | Notation | Analysis | Rendered | Notation |
I-ii | C-Dm |
| I-iii | C-Em | I-IV | C-F | ||
I-V | C-G | I-vi | C-Am | I-vii[sup]b5[/sup] | C-Bm[sup]b5[/sup] | |||
I-vii | C-Bm | I-II | C-D | I-[sup]#[/sup]iv[sup]b5[/sup] | C-F[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | |||
I-[sup]b[/sup]VII | C-B[sup]b[/sup] |
[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/chordProgMaj-03.mp3[/mp3]
The above analysis treats the C major chord as if it were chord I in each case, ignoring the borrowings from other scales/keys.
We could do this for any major chord or any minor chord.
We could also use other substitution types
- tritone - substitute a major chord or dom7th chord for a minor chord 6 semitones away from its root (naming) note
- elisive - replace with teh chord starting on the 3rd above or the 3rd below the root of the chord
- rel major - Use c instead of Am for example
- rel minor - Use Am instead of C for example
- tonic major for a minor chord - Use A instead of Am
- tonic minor for a major chord - Use Cm instead of C
The following tables show each of the chords in a given key and the chords that they move to according to our original table.
Ab
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | A[sup]b[/sup] | any chord | A[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup]m, Cm, D[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup], Fm, Gm[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | B[sup]b[/sup]m | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | D[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup], Gm[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | Cm | ii,IV,vi | B[sup]b[/sup]m, D[sup]b[/sup], Fm |
IV | D[sup]b[/sup] | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | A[sup]b[/sup], Cm, E[sup]b[/sup], Gm[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | E[sup]b[/sup] | I,vi,IV | A[sup]b[/sup], Fm, D[sup]b[/sup] |
vi | Fm | ii,IV,V,I | B[sup]b[/sup]m, D[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup], A[sup]b[/sup] |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | Gm[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | A[sup]b[/sup], Cm |
A
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | A | any chord | A, Bm, C[sup]#[/sup]m, D, E, F[sup]#[/sup]m, G[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | Bm | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | D, E, G[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | C[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,vi | Bm, D, F[sup]#[/sup]m |
IV | D | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | A, C[sup]#[/sup]m, E, G[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | E | I,vi,IV | A, F[sup]#[/sup]m, D |
vi | F[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,V,I | Bm, D, E, A |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | G[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | A, C[sup]#[/sup]m |
B[sup]b[/sup]
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | B[sup]b[/sup] | any chord | B[sup]b[/sup], Cm, Dm, E[sup]b[/sup], F, Gm, Am[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | Cm | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | E[sup]b[/sup], F, Am[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | Dm | ii,IV,vi | Cm, E[sup]b[/sup], Gm |
IV | E[sup]b[/sup] | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | B[sup]b[/sup], Dm, F, Am[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | F | I,vi,IV | B[sup]b[/sup], Gm, E[sup]b[/sup] |
vi | Gm | ii,IV,V,I | Cm, E[sup]b[/sup], F, B[sup]b[/sup] |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | Am[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | B[sup]b[/sup], Dm |
B
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | B | any chord | B, C[sup]#[/sup]m, D[sup]#[/sup]m, E, F[sup]#[/sup], G[sup]#[/sup]m, A[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | C[sup]#[/sup]m | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | E, F[sup]#[/sup], A[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | D[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,vi | C[sup]#[/sup]m, E, G[sup]#[/sup]m |
IV | E | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | B, D[sup]#[/sup]m, F[sup]#[/sup], A[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | F[sup]#[/sup] | I,vi,IV | B, G[sup]#[/sup]m, E |
vi | G[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,V,I | C[sup]#[/sup]m, E, F[sup]#[/sup], B |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | A[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | B, D[sup]#[/sup]m |
C
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | C | any chord | C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bm[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | Dm | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | F, G, Bm[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | Em | ii,IV,vi | Dm, F, Am |
IV | F | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | C, Em, G, Bm[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | G | I,vi,IV | C, Am, F |
vi | Am | ii,IV,V,I | Dm, F, G, C |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | Bm[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | C, Em |
C[sup]#[/sup]
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | C[sup]#[/sup] | any chord | C[sup]#[/sup], D[sup]#[/sup]m, E[sup]#[/sup]m, F[sup]#[/sup], G[sup]#[/sup], A[sup]#[/sup]m, B[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | D[sup]#[/sup]m | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | F[sup]#[/sup], G[sup]#[/sup], B[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | E[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,vi | D[sup]#[/sup]m, F[sup]#[/sup], A[sup]#[/sup]m |
IV | F[sup]#[/sup] | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | C[sup]#[/sup], E[sup]#[/sup]m, G[sup]#[/sup], B[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | G[sup]#[/sup] | I,vi,IV | C[sup]#[/sup], A[sup]#[/sup]m, F[sup]#[/sup] |
vi | A[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,V,I | D[sup]#[/sup]m, F[sup]#[/sup], G[sup]#[/sup], C[sup]#[/sup] |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | B[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | C[sup]#[/sup], E[sup]#[/sup]m |
D[sup]b[/sup]
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | D[sup]b[/sup] | any chord | D[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup]m, Fm, G[sup]b[/sup], A[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup]m, Cm[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | E[sup]b[/sup]m | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | G[sup]b[/sup], A[sup]b[/sup], Cm[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | Fm | ii,IV,vi | E[sup]b[/sup]m, G[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup]m |
IV | G[sup]b[/sup] | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | D[sup]b[/sup], Fm, A[sup]b[/sup], Cm[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | A[sup]b[/sup] | I,vi,IV | D[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup]m, G[sup]b[/sup] |
vi | B[sup]b[/sup]m | ii,IV,V,I | E[sup]b[/sup]m, G[sup]b[/sup], A[sup]b[/sup], D[sup]b[/sup] |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | Cm[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | D[sup]b[/sup], Fm |
D
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | D | any chord | D, Em, F[sup]#[/sup]m, G, A, Bm, C[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | Em | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | G, A, C[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | F[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,vi | Em, G, Bm |
IV | G | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | D, F[sup]#[/sup]m, A, C[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | A | I,vi,IV | D, Bm, G |
vi | Bm | ii,IV,V,I | Em, G, A, D |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | C[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | D, F[sup]#[/sup]m |
E[sup]b[/sup]
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | E[sup]b[/sup] | any chord | E[sup]b[/sup], Fm, Gm, A[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup], Cm, Dm[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | Fm | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | A[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup], Dm[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | Gm | ii,IV,vi | Fm, A[sup]b[/sup], Cm |
IV | A[sup]b[/sup] | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | E[sup]b[/sup], Gm, B[sup]b[/sup], Dm[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | B[sup]b[/sup] | I,vi,IV | E[sup]b[/sup], Cm, A[sup]b[/sup] |
vi | Cm | ii,IV,V,I | Fm, A[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup] |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | Dm[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | E[sup]b[/sup], Gm |
E
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | E | any chord | E, F[sup]#[/sup]m, G[sup]#[/sup]m, A, B, C[sup]#[/sup]m, D[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | F[sup]#[/sup]m | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | A, B, D[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | G[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,vi | F[sup]#[/sup]m, A, C[sup]#[/sup]m |
IV | A | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | E, G[sup]#[/sup]m, B, D[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | B | I,vi,IV | E, C[sup]#[/sup]m, A |
vi | C[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,V,I | F[sup]#[/sup]m, A, B, E |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | D[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | E, G[sup]#[/sup]m |
F
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | F | any chord | F, Gm, Am, B[sup]b[/sup], C, Dm, Em[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | Gm | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | B[sup]b[/sup], C, Em[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | Am | ii,IV,vi | Gm, B[sup]b[/sup], Dm |
IV | B[sup]b[/sup] | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | F, Am, C, Em[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | C | I,vi,IV | F, Dm, B[sup]b[/sup] |
vi | Dm | ii,IV,V,I | Gm, B[sup]b[/sup], C, F |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | Em[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | F, Am |
F[sup]#[/sup]
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | F[sup]#[/sup] | any chord | F[sup]#[/sup], G[sup]#[/sup]m, A[sup]#[/sup]m, B, C[sup]#[/sup], D[sup]#[/sup]m, E[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | G[sup]#[/sup]m | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | B, C[sup]#[/sup], E[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | A[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,vi | G[sup]#[/sup]m, B, D[sup]#[/sup]m |
IV | B | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | F[sup]#[/sup], A[sup]#[/sup]m, C[sup]#[/sup], E[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | C[sup]#[/sup] | I,vi,IV | F[sup]#[/sup], D[sup]#[/sup]m, B |
vi | D[sup]#[/sup]m | ii,IV,V,I | G[sup]#[/sup]m, B, C[sup]#[/sup], F[sup]#[/sup] |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | E[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | F[sup]#[/sup], [sup]#[/sup]Am |
G[sup]b[/sup]
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | G[sup]b[/sup] | any chord | G[sup]b[/sup], A[sup]b[/sup]m, B[sup]b[/sup]m, C[sup]b[/sup], D[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup]m, Fm[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | A[sup]b[/sup]m | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | C[sup]b[/sup], D[sup]b[/sup], Fm[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | B[sup]b[/sup]m | ii,IV,vi | A[sup]b[/sup]m, C[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup]m |
IV | C[sup]b[/sup] | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | G[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup]m, D[sup]b[/sup], Fm[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | D[sup]b[/sup] | I,vi,IV | G[sup]b[/sup], E[sup]b[/sup]m, C[sup]b[/sup] |
vi | E[sup]b[/sup]m | ii,IV,V,I | A[sup]b[/sup]m, C[sup]b[/sup], D[sup]b[/sup], G[sup]b[/sup] |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | Fm[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | G[sup]b[/sup], B[sup]b[/sup]m |
G
Chord | Chord name | Goes to | Chord name |
I | G | any chord | G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
ii | Am | IV,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | C, D, F[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
iii | Bm | ii,IV,vi | Am, C, Em |
IV | C | I,iii,V,vii[sup]b5[/sup] | G, Bm, D, F[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] |
V | D | I,vi,IV | G, Em, C |
vi | Em | ii,IV,V,I | Am, C, D, G |
vii[sup]b5[/sup] | F[sup]#[/sup]m[sup]b5[/sup] | I,iii | G, Bm |
E[sup]##[/sup] = F[sup]#[/sup]
A[sup]##[/sup] = B
E[sup]#[/sup] = F
B[sup]#[/sup] = C
C[sup]b[/sup] = B
F[sup]b[/sup] = E
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