Guitar/Chord Progressions
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It can be argued that trying to impose a "structure" on music is impossible, because music is organic. This is true, and many composers do not consider chord structures much when composing, perhaps trying various things out and just going with what works, or maybe having an intuitive understanding of the structures involved. Knowledge of chord structures will help you communicate with other musicians, and is a must for participating in any kind of jam session. With a few exceptions, all the musicians need to know the "changes" (the chord structure) and form in order for group improvisation to succeed.
Most songs use three or more chords, some songs have two or even one chord structures. However, they are harder to work with because it is more difficult to write an interesting piece with fewer chords. Often the musicians will try to get as much as they can out of the chords by adding fills and interesting rhythm patterns. One chord "structures" are uncommon, but they do exist. For instance, Frere Jacques is a one-chord song because it can be played against a single major chord. One chord songs are rare on guitar.
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[edit] The I-IV-V
By far the most common chord structures revolve around, or at least contain, the I, IV, and V chords. Lots of resources refer to chords in this way and it is important to memorise the Latin numerals assigned to these chord progressions. Many songs use only these three chords (and possibly variations of them), because the progression "rounds out" and sounds complete.
Many chord progressions start at the tonic (I), moves away to somewhere else, only to come back to the tonic. You can play this progression with major chords or you can substitute minor chords for the IV or V.
[edit] Applying the I-IV-V
This progression is pretty much the backbone of popular western music. Eddie Cochran, Muddy Waters and Buddy Holly are three artists who have used this progression extensively with great effect.
.png) E major (I) |
.png) A major (IV) |
.png) B7 (V) |
[edit] The I-vi-IV-V
When picked with triplets, this progression is most commonly recognized from rock ballads in the 1980s, but it is widely used in many other styles of music. This progression is commonly referred to as the 50's progression, because it was common to many of the popular songs of the 1950's, notably "Stand by Me". Here's the progression in the key of G major.
.png) G major (I) |
.png) E minor (iv) |
.png) C major (IV) |
.png) D major (V) |
[edit] The I-V-I-I
This is a popular progression at the beginning of a much larger line, and can be combined with many other scale degrees.
[edit] The ii-V-I
As it's name indicates, the progression is: ii-min7, V7 and Imaj7.
.png) Dm7 (ii-min7) |
.png) G7 (V7) |
.png) Cmaj7 (I) |
Alternatively you can change the chord type on the II, and alter the voicing of the V. Some examples are:
- ii-m7b5(9) V7alt Imaj7
[edit] Applying the II-V-I
ii-V-Is can be chained together, creating complex progressions. Here's an example:
.png) C major (I) |
.png) Bm7b5 (ii) |
.png) E7 (V) |
.png) Am7 (I) |
.png) Dm7 (ii) |
G7 (V) |
|
C maj7 (I) |
C Bm7b5 E7 (I ii V) Am7 Dm7 G7 (I ii V) C (etc...) (I etc..)
An example of complicated progression that can be created this way is the "Coltrane Changes", where the "I" chords move by Major 3rd intervals. Here's a simple example:
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 (ii V I ) F#m7 B7 Emaj7 (ii V I ) Bbm7 Eb7 Abmaj7 (ii V I ) Dm7 etc... (I etc...)
The way the ii-V-I progression works is first that it moves by 4ths upwards, which very often produces interesting results, and the 7th goes down a half tone below and becomes the following chord's 3rd.
[edit] The Minor ii-V-i
Another commonly used chord progression is the minor ii-V-i. One can derive this from the melodic minor scales shown above, while substituting a IminMaj7 for the IMaj7 chord, or by using three modes from one harmonic minor scale , which produces the following chord progression:
