Bonus Lesson #1 - Chord Progressions

In this lesson I show how similar chord progressions appear in different songs - which, I hope, will convince the you, the viewer, that there is a logic behind chord progressions (which we'll cover in a later lesson :) ).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• lesson
• chord
• progressions
• songwriting
• similarity
• music
• playing
• tutorial
• bonus
• keyboards
• harmony
• improvisation
• instructional video

[RockShot777]

Question: What key is being played at the progression at 3:37 (sowing the seeds)? It has Ab and Bb, which is not part of the A minor scale (though the harmonic minor VII would make there an Ab). How is a Bb in this? Or is it just aesthetics?

[MangoldProject]

Hi RockShot,

The progression played is in C major, not A minor; nevertheless, that still doesn't answer your question :). It isn't uncommon to play "passing-chords", much like passing-notes, which do not belong to the scale, as long as the resolve to the scale. Their purpose is to create tension in the progression. Learning how and when to use them is a matter of experience, but there are some "classics" you should be familiar with.

[MangoldProject]

For example, suppose you wish to resolve to C. The progression shown above goes: Ab-Bb-C, which is one way of doing so. Here's another: F-Bb-G-C. Here's another: Eb-Bb-F-C.

Another example: in going from C to F (on the C Major scale), you can insert an E in the middle, which is definitely not part of the scale. Or, in going from C to G, you could insert a D (this, by the way, is a trademark Queen move - check out, e.g., 'Somebody to Love').

[RockShot777]

Thank you! I am not familiar if there are sringent "rules" or so in music theory, I just remembered the VII is sharpened in the harmonic minor, which is why I thought it was in A minor. That begs the question, is there a standard for "passing notes" or tension? I know the Ab and Bb were shortened to one beat each... so do passing chords avoid getting regular beats of the other standard chords? Is there a number of semitones between two chords of a key to obtain passing chords?

[MangoldProject]

There are no rules that I know of, but there are certain "tricks" that get used repeatedly. I believe recognizing them is a skill that can be picked up only by analyzing and playing hundreds of songs - can't offer any better advice unfortunately :).

[felippemalta]

thanks Moby for the nice vid...

[potatoboat]

this was extremely helpful

[keyblader118]

@walmartninja yep! same notes!

[TheLoconess]

4/17/2011...I like the way you pateintly teach Sir! I cant read music and am currently trying to learn to play by ear. My goal..to follow my voice as I sing so I can record a self produced Latin Salsa Album and Disc #2 will be an Urban r&b cd. How can I memorize chords faster? and..how do I know which cord is the right one to follow my voice on that given vocal note??? Can I crash course myself and later learn the theory of learning to play keyboard? Ps. I Love your Fantom-X!!!

[FightorDieBand]

@badzulu44 K Thanks for that. I'm doing a basic songwriting course atm where the lecturer is far more interested in theory than practice. But if I don't need to use RNs then I wont!

[badzulu44]

@FightorDieBand So basically there is a formula for this. The chords of the major scale are: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°. (Major 1, Minor 2, Minor 3, Major 4, Major 5 (dominant), Minor 6, Diminished 7.) So the chords in the key of C according to this formula would be: C major, D minor, E minor, F major, G major, A minor, B diminished. So if someone says play a 2 chord in C major, they mean for you to play a D minor chord, and so forth. This usually how roman numerals are used.

[badzulu44]

@FightorDieBand Hello Fightor. You asked how the chord progression is written in roman numerals since those chords don't belong to the C scale. In this case you wouldn't use Roman numerals. You really only use roman numerals when you hear someone say "play me a 1 chord in the key of G Major", or "play a 4 chord in the key of A Major". What they mean by this is to play the chords according to the key that you are in

[FightorDieBand]

I have a question. How is the Ab-Bb-C chord progression written in roman numerals? As Ab and Bb triads don't naturally belong to the C Major scale I was just wondering how this is displayed :D

[aunn2535]

You face same Steve Job.

[walmartninja]

does this apply to synthesizers as well?

[feewert42]

lol suddenly i see!! nice lesson, reaaally helpfull, by the way, is that the roland gx?