1

I've found a song that uses the next progression. Is a 4 "simple" 4 bars progression:

Cm / D / D# / F

In the first 3 bars, it plays notes from this scale: D D# F# G A A# C In the last bar, basically is using the notes from the triad: F A C

At the beginning I thought it was a G harmonic minor progression, but the last bar blows my mind because it works so well but I can't fit it all together (it should be F#, not F). Is the song making a key change? or maybe I'm too tired and I can see the obvious?

Thanks to all the community in advance.

|improve this question
3

First, that D# chord is more easily understood as an Eb chord.

Assuming that this chord progression loops, I'd think it's in C minor, with this Roman numeral notation:

i - V/v - VI/v = III - IV

So the D-to-Eb chord progression would be understood as V/v (a secondary dominant) to VI/v, rather like a deceptive cadence. The Eb chord would be a capable pivot chord back into C minor.

IV going to i (a subdominant variant going to the tonic) sounds fine to me.

Alternately, if we treat this as being in G minor, we get this:

iv - V - VI - VII

Shame we don't reach the tonic!

|improve this answer
  • With the scale notes being G A Bb C D Eb F#, it's highly likely to be G harmonic minor. With it being modal and using C as the root. – Tim Nov 27 '18 at 7:01
  • Mmhm, one thing is true and I didn't say it before: the song/progression has a bass making a C note all the time in the 4 bars. But I don't understand, if it were a C minor, we would have: C D Eb F G Ab Bb And not "my" notes: C D Eb F# G A Bb And D chord should be suspended and the F chord should be minor and not major isn't? – Victor Nov 27 '18 at 8:43
  • @Victor it's rather c-Dorian than Ionian/major, and (in this answer's interpretation) the D chord is basically borrowed from the dominant key. – leftaroundabout Nov 27 '18 at 16:05
1

This is best undestood as iv-V-VI-VII in G minor. Sure, D major chords are from G harmonic minor, but that doesn't exclude the rest of the G natural minor's chords.

In light of the new developent in this post, the C pedal over the entire progression, I agree with the other answers that suggest C Dorian with a borrowed D chord from the relative minor, G minor (harmonic minor).

|improve this answer
  • What is your reason for seeing this as g rather than c, if the “dominant” anyways doesn't resolve to a g chord? What does your answer add over Dekkadeci's? – leftaroundabout Nov 27 '18 at 15:59
  • @leftaroundabout, all the pitches are from G minor where the only chromatic is the raised ^7 for the dominant D, while it's funny the tonic is omitted, everything else is straight forward key of G minor. The dominant truly defines a key. If it were C minor we have two foreign chords - that aren't really functional - and no dominant. – Michael Curtis Nov 27 '18 at 18:22
  • I conceptualized this as a variation of the VI-VII-i move in minor, that's really really common. Also, in C, it seems to make less sense, with less of a sense of resolution. It could, of course be C minor, I just think it makes more sense in G minor. As for what it adds, in my opinion it is a refutation of his idea. – user45266 Nov 27 '18 at 18:30
  • 1
    I see the original post left out the part about bass part playing a C pedal. In light of that @leftaroundabout's comment about C Dorian seems probably the best description. – Michael Curtis Nov 27 '18 at 18:32
  • Thank you, @MichaelCurtis. I've edited my response. Really interesting piece, should be! – user45266 Nov 27 '18 at 23:59

Your Answer

By clicking "Post Your Answer", you acknowledge that you have read our updated terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy, and that your continued use of the website is subject to these policies.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.