Major chord progressions are essential elements in many hit songs, providing their bright and upbeat sound as well as emotional depth by building tension before finally dissolving into positive, upbeat moments.
Chord function involves much more than simply knowing which key a chord falls under; rather, it involves understanding its relation to other chords as well as managing tension and resolution with voice leading and intervallic content.
The 2-5-1 Progression
If you want to add jazzy sounds to your chord progressions, the 2-5-1 chord progression is an excellent place to begin. This progression features two altered dominant chords (VI and V7) as well as the root note of the major scale which forms 1 chord – perfect for use in most songs! This progression works well regardless of key centre.
This progression can be played in any key on the circle of fifths – simply choose your starting point! Before beginning this progression, it is wise to practice each chord individually until you become comfortable with them before switching up their inversions up and down for better understanding of how they work. Once comfortable with chord shapes, move onto practicing progressions.
This progression is a standard feature of jazz harmony and can be heard in the chord progressions of popular jazz standards, providing a great way to expand your jazz vocabulary. You may hear it used with guide tones on downbeats to outline changes. This helps keep the harmony moving in fourths – another feature common to jazz harmony! If you want to gain more knowledge in jazz harmony and improvisation join our Inner Circle; with instrument-specific courses, expert jazz theory/improvisation workshops and our library of standard deep dives updated monthly you’ll have everything needed to take your playing to new heights!
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One of the most widely-used chord progressions in modern music, I-v-vi-IV can be heard across multiple genres and song types. It is an ideal choice when selecting songs which require intense energy and emotion, like rock songs. Add depth and variety to this progression by changing up the order or type of chords used, such as by changing from IV chord to V6 chord to create tension and more drama in sound. Another way to explore this progression is by employing diminished chords. These tritone-based chords have an inherently dissonant sound and can add drama and tension to songs; they’re typically not used as frequently though.
When designing major chord progressions of your own, it’s essential to consider how they will complement the overall feel and melody/lyrics of the song. Experiment with different combinations/orders/ordering of chords until you find what works for your songs; use musical techniques such as rhythm/beat to give the chord progressions an exciting and dynamic sound.