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.
835
questions
-1
votes
3answers
78 views
What is a parallel natural minor scale and why is it not on the circle of 5ths?
Im7 II-7(b5) bIIImaj7 IVm7 Vm7 bVImaj7 bVII7
These parallel natural minor chords used in pop music do not show up in the circle of 5ths. I only see vi ii and iii. Is there a chart or a way to ...
0
votes
3answers
56 views
Does this progression have a name? If then what is its name?
bVI-V-i-bIII
I discovered this progression various months ago when playing with a website that lets you make chord progressions (not one of those websites that create a progression randomly, a website ...
4
votes
2answers
319 views
Popular examples of the ♭III in modern rock music?
In the chorus of one of the last songs, "Goodbye", off of Bo Burnham's special Inside, Bo uses the following progression:
Key Signature: G Major
Chord Progression: C - B♭ - G
I believe that ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
What feelings does placing a minor chord in different places in a chord progression create? [closed]
For example, let's take the common major progression of I-V-vi-IV chords. How would the feeling of the overall song differ if:
The vi chord was the first chord of the progression
The vi chord was the ...
6
votes
4answers
504 views
Modulating a minor 3rd
I want to modulate from a chorus that's in F# minor to a verse which is in D# minor.
Do you know a good (preferably short) chord progression/transition for this modulation?
0
votes
0answers
31 views
In Kim Taeyeon's “I”, why do the C7 and quasi Six-Four Chords conceal the chord changes?
I don't understand the analysis and dialogue, starting at 15:04, between Kevin Wang BMus (Eastman) in Piano Performance and Jenny Yunyi Ji BMus (Eastman), MMus (San Francisco Conservatory of Music) in ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
Why are phrases/chord progressions most commonly four bars?
Chord progression and phrases are almost always 4 bars (in pop and country). Why is this? Why not 8 bars(I-I-IV-IV-V-V-I-I)
3
votes
2answers
72 views
Were Plagal Cadences always used with an Authentic Cadence preceding it?
In typical 19th-century harmony, was a Plagal Cadence always used with an Authentic Cadence preceding it? To put it another way, was it typically ever used out of its "Amen" context?
2
votes
3answers
73 views
Can a cadence happen only at the end of a measure?
In this chord progression, | I vi IV V | I vi IV V | I |, there seems to be a perfect cadence that occurs at the end of one chord progression/measure (V) and the beginning of the next chord ...
3
votes
4answers
414 views
If IV-V are most related to the tonic are the other chords just substitution and or flavor?
Using a major scale do the ii, iii, vi, and viidim diatonic chords have a purpose besides extra 'flavor'.
1
vote
6answers
1k views
Which chords should be avoided in a four-chord progression (mathematically)?
I notice that 4 chord songs almost never use the iii chord or the viidim chord. Do these chords not fit mathematically (into the circle of 5hts)?
3-chord history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-...
0
votes
2answers
109 views
What specific advantages are there for writing the melody first vs the harmony first? [closed]
In what instances would it be beneficial to choose to write the melody first or the harmony first? Are there any examples in history of a composer / songwriter favoring one method over the other? If ...
2
votes
4answers
134 views
I have trouble writing within the boundries of chord progression
I know about the necessity of writing songs with a 4 chord progression. Yet every time I sit down to place a chord progression upon my melody I wind up with a convoluted mess. If my melody has a D ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
How to smoothly re-establish original tonality?
In this post, you all helped me modulate from the original tonality of C major to a new tonality of Bb Major. Now, I am trying to find my way back to the original key.
This is what the chords are ...
25
votes
10answers
4k views
Randomly and Programmatically generate a “good” next chord?
I am a Software Developer/Musician who has free time before summer classes start up. I wanted to sharpen my chord reading and improvising skills.
What I would like to do is generate a phrase of ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views
How should I analyze this chord progression?
A while ago I developed a chord progression on the piano I find really beautiful. It goes
C E G B
C D# F# B
B D# F# A
B E G A
and then after repeating that a few times over I add
B E F# A
A D# F# A
B ...
1
vote
2answers
125 views
Why do I always hear the Zelda theme in Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major?
In the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Op. 35, Violin Concerto in D Major, in the very soft part at the middle of the song (07:19 in this Yehudi Menuhin recording), I've always heard the Zelda theme. ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
How would you write a “Dmaj -> Gmaj -> Fmaj” chord progression using Roman numerals?
Seems like a simple question... song seems to be in key of D. But I cannot figure out how to describe the progression using the chord progression Roman numerals.
5
votes
2answers
546 views
Help me understand the chord progression in Tatsuro Yamashita's 'Sparkle'
I'm trying to understand/analyze 'Sparkle' (1982) by Tatsuro Yamashita. Funky stuff begins at 0:50.
The song is in Emaj (I think), and here's the chord progression I'm looking at (take it easy with my ...
2
votes
4answers
464 views
Does this modulation make sense?
I am wondering how to assess the following modulation from C major to Bb major according to rules of traditional harmony:
I threw the modulation together without thinking about it much, and thought &...
-2
votes
2answers
58 views
What makes descending chords so Sci-Fi? Psychologically [closed]
I have noticed that descending chord progressions seem to feel sci-fi-ish. I'm playing on an acoustic piano, so I mean that it just feels that way because of the composition, not some synth filter.
...
1
vote
4answers
97 views
Theme seems complete enough, but Variations seem to need that extra harmony, what should I do? [closed]
So, I’m composing a Theme and Variations based off of the La Folia progression and I started really basic for the Theme so that I would have some more wiggle room for Variations. I’ve even considered ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
How to interpret this blues-like chord sequence?
How would you interpret a blues-like chord sequence where the I, IV and V chords are e.g.:
%5/1.5/1.7/3.5/1.6/2.5/1[I] %3/1.5/3.3/1.4/2.3/1.3/1[IV] %5/1.7/3.5/1.6/2.5/1.5/1[V]
Is this simply a major ...
0
votes
2answers
170 views
Why does the ii-V-i-IV progression in this video have chords from a different key?
I've been learning about chord progressions and found myself with the one shown in the video embedded at the end of this post.
At 2:25, the narrator selects a software-built-in chord progression: ii-V-...
9
votes
7answers
1k views
What do you mean by the tonic chord feels as 'home'?
I am new to the world of music theory and have some basic knowledge of the different modes of the major scale.
As per my knowledge, every scale has a tonic chord which is essentially the one all other ...
4
votes
3answers
158 views
In the context of G Major, is there anything special about a Am-Cm-Bm-Em progression?
It looks like a ii-V-iii-vi going around the circle of fifths but with the V replaced with a iv, but I don't know what the theory behind that replacement is. I'd heard of tonicization before but I'm ...
2
votes
3answers
280 views
I'm making a good chord progression, but I'm stuck [closed]
It goes Dm, then C#Aug, and then something with the note B as the root. Can someone help me understand where this is going? I don't have a lot of music theory experience, so I'm sorry that I'm asking ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
I chord interpretation and broken chord interpretation blocking broken chords
I'm having trouble interpreting this chord. It is labeled as a I chord, and from seeing that there is no key signature, I'm assuming it's in Cmaj or Amin. But what I'm not getting is, to my knowledge, ...
3
votes
4answers
93 views
What would this chord progression derive from? [closed]
What would you primarly use over this chord progression Em7 B7 CM7 Am7 B7
2
votes
4answers
104 views
How to write a diatonic progression with the bassline ascending in steps
I would like to write a chord progression going through the C major scale with the bass moving up in diatonic steps and using as few note changes as possible between triadic chords... So, obviously, ...
2
votes
2answers
54 views
Complex chord progression (secondary dominants) with simple step-wise melody?
In many musical pieces, complex harmonic relations can be identified in the chord progression even when the melody can intuitively be "felt" to progress in a very simple step-wise manner.
...
8
votes
1answer
213 views
How to apply Paul Hindemith's harmonic theory
I have been studying Paul Hindemith's "The Craft of Musical Composition, Book 1: Theory", trying to apply Hindemith's principles to my own harmonies and melodies.
As you may know, Hindemith'...
3
votes
6answers
134 views
If you add a 9th to a subdominant IV chord does it make it a dominant chord?
For example, if you have a progression in D major that ends on G, would adding an A to the G chord and losing the 3rd make the chord dominant? You would have the notes G A and D. It certainly sounds ...
3
votes
1answer
121 views
Harmonic Analysis of C. M. von Weber Clarinet Concerto No.1
My question is regarding this passage from C. M. von Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1. The passage is taken from the exposition of the first movement and has so far been established in F minor.
Bars 20 ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Does this song use chromatic mediant in G major? and what other music theory concepts this song's verse utilize
I'm currently learning basic music theory and along the way I review old songs on my playlist then analyze what key, chord progression and somehow discover the composer's way of creating music.
The ...
2
votes
2answers
101 views
How to identify notes in a key that sound better while improvising?
I learned all the chords and their inversions. I'm pretty slow with inversions yet but I'm trying as hard as I can!
Now I started to improvise with my right hand a little bit (omg this is so fun!). So ...
10
votes
3answers
944 views
How does Eb connect musically to C major chord progression like in this song?
Im learning basic music theory and chord progression then I stumbled upon this song (You are my song by Martin Nievera) :
From my understanding, the first 2 lines are simply C major chord ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
Understanding method of applying modes on chords
I am learning about modes and trying to apply them on guitar over chord progressions, and I wanted to understand how exactly to know, when you hear some song, "ah, this song allows me to play ...
1
vote
2answers
52 views
What is the correct V7 family for the harmonic progression?
The key I am in is B flat Major, and the progression I have is A2, G3, E4, C5, which is the vii7 chord progression. Keeping the sharing notes, what would be the correct V chord? Would it be V6/5, V2, ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
What is the function of this chord progression in Schubert's “Winterreise”?
I'm having a hard time figuring out how the chord progression from Schubert's Winterreise (D911), No. 11 "Frühlingstraum", measures 15–26 works (from the section marked "Schnell" ...
1
vote
0answers
53 views
Find a chord progression [closed]
I am looking for the chord progression that appears in this audio file.
There should be : G/D - Bm/F# - F#m, but I am missing one. Thanks in advance !
2
votes
4answers
116 views
How to use a diminished triad in 1st inversion in a pop-music chord progression
I have not seen a lot of 1st inversion diminished chords (e.g.: D F B) in popular music and was wondering how this chord might be used in some standard pop chord progressions. Examples would be most ...
4
votes
2answers
237 views
Is the I - IV - vi - IV music progression common in pop music?
So I just started studying music theory, so for fun I thought I would practice by analyzing a song I remember enjoying. Marianas Trench's satirical song "Pop 101":
...
1
vote
2answers
108 views
A: PS 4: S 1: Q 2: Why does my answer continue to be “Partially Correct”?
It is Question 2 under Section 1 on "Connecting Root Position Tonic and Dominant Chords" from Problem Set 4 of Artusi, which my Music Theory II class uses.
The only feedback I get from ...
2
votes
2answers
66 views
Naming/understanding this dominant chord with quartal upper structure
I'm trying to understand an interesting non-diatonic chord in the chord progression at 0:30-0:45 of this video; my rough transcription of the chords is as follows.
As far as I can tell, the non-...
5
votes
5answers
718 views
Why is V7->i considered a better resolution than others like vi dim->i in a minor scale?
I've seen multiple sources and videos where V7->I (major) and V7->i (minor) are said to be the strongest resolutions. In the case of the minor scale, I hear vi dim->i (where vi is minor of b6)...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
anybody know what song this is? [closed]
I can't seem to find out what song. All's I really have is roughly the chord progression that I can work out. Seems to be a
vi-V-vi-I
Or
Am Am GM - Am Am CM -
If it's in c major/ a minor key. It has a ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
What are the earliest examples of using the circle of fifths in western music
While reading about Vavilov's "Ave Maria" previously attributed to Caccini, I met an interesting argument, that probably nobody in the USSR and maybe later in the western countries noticed ...
3
votes
1answer
145 views
Help identifying cadences and modes in iidim7 - i - vidim - vsus4
I'm a beginner when it comes to modes and cadences, and I want to understand them better to improve my song-writing as a metal guitarist. While fiddling with my guitar today, I "wrote" this ...
2
votes
5answers
647 views
Is it bad practice if guitar plays lowest root of a chord different note than the bass? [duplicate]
I recall somewhere from my guitar lessons that if bass is playing a root note, than guitar should not already repeat it on a lowest string.
I'm putting some progression, where it ends somewhere ...
