Questions tagged [chord-progressions]
For questions about sequences of chords, and the relationship of one chord to the next. Typically questions about chord progressions should also be tagged harmony if asking about in depth concepts about them. Questions that are about abstractions of chord progressions use Roman Numeral analysis should also be tagged with Roman-Numeral and analysis if applicable.
4
votes
3answers
85 views
Can the melody determine the key of an ambiguous chord progression
I am writing a song in A major. The chords in the verse are A, C#m, F#m, F#m. Now it is clear to me the key of this part of the song is A/F#m but then in the chorus the C#m chord is switched with the ...
6
votes
4answers
325 views
How to make the Bass in SATB move more smoothly?
While writing for SATB, I realise I have a few chords where the Bass part is moving down in intervals of 6ths or 7ths from one chord to the next. For example, I have a chord progression iib in F ...
4
votes
3answers
137 views
What is a Bm chord with a G in it?
I am writing a song with G > Bm > Em as the main chord progression but I found a lot of nice fingerings on the guitar for the Bm chord with an added G in it. Does this make the chord a B minor 6 ...
7
votes
0answers
67 views
False modulation for doxology in a modal key
I am barely an organist, but occasionally cover for the real organist at my church. The next time I am doing this is three weeks from now, and because I'm a novice, I already have the hymns for that ...
3
votes
0answers
53 views
Chromatic 7th chords going upwards in Beethoven
So I know I already asked about this passage in Rondo a Capriccio by Beethoven but my previous question was about overcoming the emotional tension. This is about how the harmony is working here. Here ...
0
votes
4answers
121 views
Analysis of the progression: Dm, G, C, F, Bb, E, Am, A
I've been trying to analyze the progression: Dm, G, C, F, Bb, E, Am, A.
The best I could come up with is ii, V, I, IV, bVII, V/vi, vi, V/ii in C major.
I considered the Bb to be the VII from the ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Modulation or passing through different keys in the following Bach chorale [closed]
This is Bach's chorale R.80. I want to know if the music has modulated to a particular key in certain, or is it only passing through different keys (and hence not a fixed modulation to only one key)?
4
votes
4answers
700 views
Modulation from major key to relative minor - what could be the pivot chord?
I want to modulate from D major to B minor. I have a perfect cadence (A7 - D) in D major, after which I need to use a pivot chord to go into B minor. I was thinking of using the F# chord, but I am not ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
Using passing notes in SATB writing
When writing for SATB, which is the best voice in which you can use passing notes & auxiliary notes? Also, in a music exam where the Soprano part is given to you (and you have to harmonise the ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
Using chord iii in a chord progression (major key) [closed]
I haven't come across music as yet where chord iii is used in a chord progression. I read somewhere that generally chord iii is not used, or very rarely used. Is this correct?
If chord iii is used, ...
3
votes
2answers
56 views
Chords between i and an augmented-sixth chord [closed]
I am wondering about chords that can go between i and different augmented-sixth chords. Are there any resources on this? I've googled and searched past questions and didn't find anything...
edit: in ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Writing characteristic chord progressions in inversion, & doubling notes other than the root
There are characteristic chord progressions taught in music theory, for example, the cadential 6-4, which is Ic - V - I. Then there's Ib - ii7b - V - I, & so on. I want to know if these cadences ...
1
vote
2answers
62 views
Identifying unusual chord progression & chord [closed]
I have come across this short piece. I am unsure about the key (even though it uses 2 flats as its key signature - so I am assuming it mostly is Bb major). I could not identify one of the chords (...
4
votes
2answers
144 views
Calculating the distance of chords
I was trying to create a chord progression in C major with borrowed chords from C based modes. There aren't too many "in-depth" materials about how to do this, and what I found says: "just try, maybe ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
What does the author mean in these examples of chorales & harmony?
This is an example in G major. I am learning about Bach's chorales & how he uses modulation. I came across a page online (choraleguide.com), & in one example given, I couldn't understand what ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
How are the chords in this progression functioning together?
I wrote a song that has a pretty simple verse that's in D minor. I can understand all of the chords in that progression. However, I can't figure out what's going on in the chorus. I'm curious why it ...
7
votes
6answers
1k views
What chord could the notes 'F A♭ E♭' form?
Can someone please help me understand this chord progression that actually takes the listener from E♭ to B♭. There is a chord at the end of the phrase and I can't understand what chord it ...
3
votes
2answers
68 views
Why does this chord progression function?
I'm learning music theory in school and I stumbled into this chord progression at home. I think it is cool but I want to know why it is cool.
The chord progression is: Cmaj7 Gmaj7 B♭maj Amin7
Is ...
2
votes
0answers
52 views
What chord progressions are most common in school fight songs? [closed]
Whenever I hear a school fight song, be it at my high school or at a college football game, I can recognize a pattern in almost every fight song's chord progression, but I can't identify what the ...
9
votes
5answers
555 views
Should one double the thirds or the fifth in chords?
Generally, theory books mention that one should double the root of the chord. This is followed most of the time, except by some composers who choose to double the 3rd or the 5th of the chord.
When ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Goodbye Porkpie Hat - solo harmonic analysis
I have been untangling Goodbye Porkpie Hat, the original on Mingus Ah Um. The solo section has different chords to the head on this version. I have listened to the sax solo, and I am making notes, but ...
0
votes
3answers
95 views
Chord Progression for less known chords like Emaddb9 [closed]
I was playing a simple Em chord with my classical guitar with capo being on 4th fret. I moved finger number 3 which was on 4th string to one fret higher on the same string(closer to the sound hole, ...
2
votes
6answers
709 views
Do chord progressions usually move by fifths?
I'm wondering if chords usually move down by fifths. It seems so by the diagram, so iii to vi, vi to ii, ii to V, V to I. etc. Other chords can also be thought of like that, because IV/ii and V/vii ...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
Is there a name for this cadence - [Tritone Sub of V] - I
Sometimes I've been going through [Tritone Sub of V] - I cadences. Is there a specific name for this?
-4
votes
3answers
136 views
Is the circle of fifths the most important symbol in music? [closed]
I'm convinced that the circle of fifths is one of the force behind music and I'm wondering if I'm right or wrong. But jazz, pop, etc.
They all seem to make arcs on the circle. The 2-5-1 well-known ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Why do V6/V, V6/5/V, and vii°/V have subdominant (predominant) function?
In chord progressions like I - iii - IV - I64 - V - I, which occurs extremely frequently, the IV chord is sometimes replaced by a V6/V, V65/V, or viio/V chord. Regardless they are secondary dominant /...
5
votes
3answers
381 views
Resolving to minmaj7
Looking for possible resolutions to a imaj7.
Theoretical or not - shoot!
Out-of-the-ordinary resolutions are needed (I already know the theory behind it, using possible modes and all ).
Looking ...
5
votes
1answer
80 views
What would this chord progression be called?
There's a section of the melody of Kyari Pamyu Pamyu's song ふりそで〜しょん, specifically the part preceding the chorus, where the composition shifts from a relatively straightforward A mixolydian melody to ...
2
votes
4answers
339 views
Can each chord in a progression create its own key?
Say I have a chord progression in C major:
I V vi
C G Am
When I play each of these chords can I potentially play the scale of each chord over it? So for C I'd play C major, for G I'd play G major, ...
1
vote
3answers
90 views
Using Slash Chord in IIIm
Today I am looking at the Ab key and found out the possible chords will be
Ab, Bbm, Cm, Db, Eb, Fm and Gdim.
However I have tried AbMaj7, Bbm6/G, Bbm6/G then Cm but I feel dissonance with the Bbm6/G....
0
votes
0answers
51 views
Can this chord progression be viewed as a cadence?
I was wondering if this ending chord progression to Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song" could be viewed as a cadence.
"The Rain Song" uses a very interesting guitar tuning (D-G-C-G-C-D). The notes also ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Chord progression analysis in Blur's 'Sing' from the film Trainspotting [closed]
I like this progression by Blur that was in Trainspotting and I tried to figure out what the relationship between the chords are and what key they are in:
G-B-E-G
A-C#-F#
B-D-F#
I tried a reverse ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Analysis questions about a transcription I made (Jade's Desert - Mortal Kombat Trilogy OST)
I transcribed this song recently and I wanted some insight for analyzing it. It seems to me that it is a diminished riff, using some tritones and chromatic stuff and major seconds. However, beyond ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
How can one analyze this chord progression from “Vienna” by Billy Joel?
I'm wondering how to best go about analyzing this chord progression from the Billy Joel classic, "Vienna".
The song is in Bb-Major.
The first chord is an augmented I chord (I+), which seems strange. ...
3
votes
1answer
124 views
Chord Progression Analysis: |: Bm7 Gm7 :| F#m7
How would you analyze the following chord progression found in the first verse of the song "Fazenda" by Milton Nascimento?
Bm7 Gm7 Bm7 Gm7 Bm7 Gm7 F#m7
It is interesting to hear it, there's a ...
2
votes
3answers
81 views
Analyzing the following progression
I am trying to analyze the following progression:
The underlying melody can be read from the top notes: (E, F, E, D, E). The chords are accentuating the melody.
The first chord is a Cmaj7 in root ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Does Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty modulate to the relative minor?
There's a part of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty that I like. And I was wondering if I'm right as far as the theory goes:
Measures 156-159 is in the relative key of G minor, and ends on this key.
...
-1
votes
1answer
111 views
Final cadence appears as Em7 - Am (v7 - i in A minor). Name?
I see an unusual cadence in the end of Debussy's Prelude of Pour le Piano. It is v7 - i in A minor. Is there an actual name for this?
(Chord Progression: Fmaj7 - Abaug7 - Gaug7 - C9 - Em7 - Am)
5
votes
2answers
318 views
Is this an example of a Neapolitan chord?
The chord that goes on the fourth and fifth bars of my attachment above looks like a Neapolitan chord. The excerpt is the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3: Marcia funebre Adagio assai. (...
4
votes
3answers
392 views
What are some nice/clever ways to introduce the tonic's dominant seventh chord?
I'm in C minor and want to modulate to its subdominant key of F minor. One way to do this is to introduce the tonic flat seventh chord C-E-G-B♭, which is the dominant seventh chord of F minor. ...
5
votes
3answers
146 views
Is there a specific way to learn what chord progression a song uses by ear?
Lately I've been practicing to learn songs by ear on the piano. The melody is usually easy, but figuring out the chord progression seems to be really difficult. I don't seem to get any better at it ...
0
votes
3answers
166 views
Are Secondary Dominants related to Chord-Scales? [closed]
This is in relation to my last question about chord-scales. I was wondering if secondary dominants enable an application of chord-scale theory that would allow me to expand an existing chord ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
Analyzing Tschaikovsky's “Der Puppe Begräbnis”
00:56 starts the measure 9 the Cm/eb , G7/D ..( is the 7th measure from the picture but I called it measure 9 because in the actual song it's measure 9 )
what is this chord progression at measure 13 ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
Why does this modulation sequence work?
Here is the modulation sequence I have been using in my trio with 3 incomplete entries followed by 1 complete entry(I am currently at the third incomplete entry which ends on A before Dm suddenly ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
How would one interpret this simple chord progression? and what scales to use for improvisation?
So, I come across this progression fairly often:
e.g: G - A - C
I was wondering if this progression has a name since its used often in pop songs.
I interpret it as V - VImajor - I.
Scales to use ...
4
votes
5answers
168 views
How to turn each chord in a progression into separate scales?
I was jamming with some jazz guys yet I'm not so good in jazz so I made a bunch of mistakes. One of the things they told me is is how inside of a chord progression, you then spread each chord to its ...
3
votes
4answers
278 views
Why is the circle of fifths progression (1 - 4 - 7 - 3 - 6 - 2 - 5 - 1) so common?
The circle of fifths progression (I - IV - vii° - iii - vi - ii - V - I in major / i - iv - VII - III - VI - ii° - V - i in minor) is extremely common in tonal music. Why?
1
vote
5answers
302 views
Relative minor key change in chord progression
I'm writing a song in F Major key.
I have a chord progression that goes Like
4/4
C7 - C#dim - Dm - Dm
( V7 - V#dim - Vi - Vi )
After this four measures, I wanted to change key to Dm for a moment. ...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
How to fill the harmonic gap?
So I have thought of almost the entire progression for my trio that goes from D minor to D major. Here is what I have of it so far:
D minor -> C major -> B minor -> ??? -> A major -> D major
And ...
10
votes
5answers
901 views
Must a tritone substitution use a dominant functioning seventh chord?
The tritone substitution has been discussed in several questions here, perhaps most notably What is tritone substitution? and Why is bII 7(b5) considered a dominant? (I believe my question is ...
