Im
Major
I - IV - V
I - IIm - V
I - VIm - IIm - V
I - IIIm - VIm - IIm - V
Minor
Im - IVm - Vm
(natural)
Im - II
[
- V
(harmonic)
Im - VI
[
- IIm - V
(melodic)
Im -
<
VI - IVm - V
(harmonic)
F
I
IIm
II
[
IIIm
IV
<
VI
IVm
Vm
V
A
A
<
D
G
C
VIm
VI
[
E
Chord Progression Map
Chord Progression Map
The number of ways chords can go together to produce new and interesting sounds is
nearly infinite. Musicians use their intuition and experience to arrange chords in ways
that move the music along. This notion of movement is important to understanding how
to compose and improvise a piece of music. The Chord Progression Map shows some
often-used progressions which create harmonic movement.
Harmonic Movement
Usually the interplay between chords in a piece of music creates the feeling of
movement and change. Some chord combinations sound uplifting, others sound
somber, and some sound like ocean waves. While these harmonies and how we
interpret them are nearly endless, there is a very simple principle at work.
Most pieces of music tend to first establish a feeling of stability, depart from it,
create tension, then return to the feeling of stability. Though some pieces of
music demonstrate this more dramatically than others, as you train your ear you
will become increasingly aware of it.
2
Tonic Chord
4
Set Indicator
3
Harmonic Paths
1
Progression Formulas
{
The way chords are placed one after the other in a piece of music is called a
chord progression. The Roman numerals indicating chord degree are used to
designate the chords in a progression. For example, in the key of C major a I, IV,
V7 (one, four, five) progression indicates the chords Cmaj, Fmaj, and Gdom7. In
the key of F these chords would be Fmaj, B<maj, and Cdom7.
This section of the Harmonizer shows the formulas of the more common chord
progressions in major and minor keys. All of the major progression formulas pre-
sented here are based on the major scale. However, the minor progressions are
based on the minor scale indicated within parentheses.
1.
Progression Formulas
Chord Progression Map
26