Chord Progression

I found a great learning tool for musicians on-line.
You can download a FREE chord progression chart, keyboard scales chart and poster by Wayne Chase!

http://www.completechords.com/Downloads.html


Wayne Chase goes on to say in his book How Music Really Works, "Chord progressions, though not absolutely necessary in the making of music, serve three main functions:



1. Chord progressions help define tonality and unify a piece of music. They provide a sonic frame of reference that makes unrest and dissonance possible.



2. Chord progressions impart drive and propulsion to a piece of music. In the context of tonality, most chords, like most intervals in a melody, sound, to a greater or lesser degree, tense and restless. They seek resolution. Like the tune itself, they’re also trying to find their way home.



3. Chord progressions furnish music with the qualitative aural equivalents of color and depth." Read more about how chord progressions work and download more free chapters!

http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com

" Secrets of Exciting Chords & Chord Progressions!"
Here you can learn FREE piano lessons on piano chords and chord progressions.

http://www.playpiano.com/images/II-V7-I%20Chord%20Progression.htm

Looking for answers to harmonic progressions? You'll find them here:

http://www.answers.com/topic/chord-progression

To put in other words, let's talk about chord progressions. This is what I know...

BASIC PROGRESSIONS

A progression is simply a group of 2 or more chords. Each chord you play leads, or progresses, to the next chord. The ultimate goal is to get back to the 1 chord of the key you are in. Progressions get their name from the bass / left hand notes you play. This is based off the circle of 4ths, which is the circle of 5ths in reverse. Here are the progressions that are used the most in gospel music. I'll put them in the key of C:

First, the members of C:
C=1 D=2 E=3 F=4 G=5 A=6 B=7


1-5-1

This progression is usually found at the end of a song. As you are playing this, once you play the 5, you should feel a strong urge to play the 1.:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5) G / D-G-B (5) G / G-B-D (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


1-V7-1 progression

This is just a little variation of the 1-5-1 progression. By adding in the minor 7th, it creates an even stronger urge to go to 1. Now, you don't add the 7th of the key you are in, you add the 7th of the chord. The correct term for the V7 chord is the dominant 7th chord:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1)
G / G-B-D-F (5) G / B-D-F-G (5) G / D-F-G-B (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

C / G-C-E (1) C / G-C-E (1)
G / F-G-B-D (5) G / G-B-D-F (5)
(repeat) (repeat)


1-4-1 progression

This progression is also called the "Amen" progression:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
F / F-A-C (4) F / C-F-A (4) F / F-A-C (4) F / A-C-F (4)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


1-4-5-1 progression

This is the most basic progression that can be used to play a whole song. A lot of the hymns follow this progression:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
F / F-A-C (4) F / C-F-A (4) F / F-A-C (4) F / A-C-F (4)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5) G / D-G-B (5) G / G-B-D (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


1-4-V7-1 progression

This is a variation of the 1-4-5-1 progression. Instead of playing a regular 5 chord, you can play a V7 chord:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1)
F / F-A-C (4) F / C-F-A (4) F / F-A-C (4)
G / G-B-D-F (5) G / B-D-F-G (5) G / D-F-G-B (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

C / G-C-E (1) C / G-C-E (1)
F / A-C-F (4) F / A-C-F (4)
G / G-B-D-F (5) G / F-G-B-D (5)
(repeat) (repeat)


Dominant 7th chord to 4

Whenever you have any kind of major chord, you can add the minor 7th of that chord. Once you do that, it becomes a dominant 7th chord. It naturally wants to go to the 4 chord. Key does not matter here:

C / C-E-G-Bb C / C-E-G-Bb C / E-G-Bb-C
F / F-A-C (4 of C) F / C-F-A (4 of C) F / F-A-C (4 of C)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

C / G-Bb-C-E C / Bb-C-E-G
F / A-C-F (4 of C) F / A-C-F (4 of C)
(repeat) (repeat)



http://www.LadyDpiano.com

What's A Tritone?

Q: What's a Tritone?
A: An interval composed of three whole tones.
tritone
In music, the interval of the diminished fifth, exactly half the octave, and considered in the Middle Ages to be the moral antithesis of the octave's perfect consonance, or ‘diabolus in musica’ (devil in music). Its prominence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries helped to undermine the remaining foundations of tonality, as in Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1894).
tritone
Sounds scary? Hear for yourself and find out why Tritones were banned from Christian music several hundred years ago and why they have now been embraced by contemporary gospel musicians and used in almost every modern song!

My friend, Willie Myette, wrote a great article on Tritones. He says "Tritones definitely add spice to your playing. But, many people are confused when it comes to using them."

http://www.jazzpianolessons.com/articles/tritones.php
Tritones are the 3rd and 7th of a chord. The most efficient and musical method of right hand fill for any 7th chord is to add the Tritones below the melody. The left hand only has to provide the root of the chord. Have
a listen:

http://www.keyboardedu.com/Pamphlets/pamtritones.html
In this free video series (there's 16 videos!), watch as expert piano player Ryan Larson teaches how to play tritone substitutions. Tritone substitutions are often used in jazz music, in which a chord progression of a dominant 7th chord that is three whole steps from the original dominant 7th chord, creating a chromatic root movement in popular jazz chord progressions. Have a look:

http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/3911_tritone-substitutions
What I learned about Tritones is that to use a tritone in a ii-V-I, first start by finding the tritone of the V7 chord's root. 1. What is the V7 chord? [It is G7]
2. What is the root of G7? It is G
3. What is a tritone note of G? The tritone is Db
To find the tritone easier, first find the 5th (D), then go down a 1/2 step (Db). I think it is easier to think of it this way rather than sharping the 4th.
Tritone Substitution
Each dominant seventh chord has a tritone. For example in the G7 chord:
We find the tritone between notes B and F.
In the Db7 chord:
The tritone is found on notes F - Cb. As you may have noticed, these chords share the same tritone (F = F and B = Cb):
Because of the fact that they share the same tritone, one chord can substitute the other. This is called in jazz music theory tritone substitution. Note that the chords are one tritone apart (G - Db).
A friend shared this with me. I hope you find this useful!
Finding a passing tritone:
Here’s a useful shortcut for tritone work today. Lots of people are/were confused as to forming a decent sounding tritone.
The tritone is basically two notes 3 whole steps apart from each other e.g. F and B played together form a tritone. Tri meaning 3.
The tritone can be used as a passing tone in gospel and jazz movements. It’s usually that dynamic sounding chord you usually hear especially in spacious movements i.e.
"2-5-1" may become "2 - WOW! - 5 - WHAT? - 1"
The Dynamic chord i.e. passing tone tritone is formed like this:
1. The basic structure to give the potent sound is basically a ditone (2 notes played together 2 whole steps apart). Added harmonics are formed by playing them at least one octave apart though. The major chord (right hand) is the right most note in the ditone. Whereas the tritone you'll play with the major chord is based on the left most note.
So basically for an A-Major passing tone you'll play the A-major chord with your right hand with the F tritone.
2. Form the tritone. Remember F + (3 whole steps) = B. So the tritone is F+B. Play this with your left hand.
3. For the major chord, I advise you play your major chord one inversion down- but play what you're used to. So right hand plays E+A+Db.
4. The final result would thus be: F+B // E+A+Db. Quite dynamic.
Bearing all of this in mind, you should be able to figure any tritone (passing tone) you so wish e.g.
C tritone (passing tone) would be Ab+D // G+C+E



http://www.LadyDpiano.com

PHAT Chords

When I first learned of Phat Chords, this is what I found in my research:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/9783/ci5.html I felt like I had arrived at another advanced level of music and that it would be hard to understand! lol I had discovered a dictionary of Phat Chords!

In many music forums, you'll find slash chords written to give you examples of those Phat Chords! For Example:

FC / EbGBbD / F (foot pedal)
ADbG / ACFA / B
BbF / AbCEbF / Bb
FB / EbGBb / Db
CBb / EbBbDF / C
FBb / ADGb / F
BbF / AbCDF / Bb
DbAb / FAbCEb / Db
CBb / EAbBbEb / C

Or, how about this chart:
Phat Chords

#1.

Bb/Ab Db Eb F
B/Bb Db Eb Gb
F/Ab Db Eb F
Gb/B Db Eb Gb
B/Eb Ab Bb Db

#2.

C/C Eb Ab
Db/Db F Ab
D/DFAbB
Eb/Db Gb Bb
D/Ab B D F
Eb/Db Gb Bb
D/Ab B D F
Eb/Gb Bb Eb
Bb/ F Ab Db
B/Eb Ab Bb Db

And then here are some more of them Phat Chords:
Legend LH/RH

#1.
BbFAb/CDbEbAb
BGbBb/DEbGbBb
FEb/DbEbFAb
GbDbF/DbFBbDb
BGb/AbBbDbEbGb

#2.
C/BbEbAb
DbAb/CEbFAb
DBb/DGbAbBb
EbBb/DbGbAbBb
EDb/EAbBbEb (passing to 3 (to get to 1-4-5) change to resolve to Key of Db)
FCEb/GAbBbEb
GbF/DbFBb

BAb/G#ADbF (filler)
AGb/GbADbEb (filler)
AbF/DbEbFAb

AGb/ADbEbAb (filler)
EbB/ADbEbGb (filler)
AbEbF/AbDbEbF

EbDb/GbBbDbF
G/FBbEb
AbEb/GbBbCF
DA/CEGbBb
DbAb/CEbFAb

I actually found a website regarding Phat Chords. Got Phat Chords is the #1 community for finding fat chord progressions, scales for piano and guitar, learning music theory, and meeting new musicians. Have a look:

http://gotphatchords.com

My friend Labsonqu, from the HearandPlay zone posted these chords and midi of Phat Chords:
GdBb/BEbGbBb
EbG/AbCEbG
DF/GCEG
BbD/EbGBbD



Jonathan Powell from hearandplay.com reveals many hidden secrets that advanced musicians don't share. These chords are used in todays top gospel songs. He speaks a lot about dissonance and he adds lots of grace notes in his West Coast style of playing. I actually own his Dvd and I'm very pleased with it.
Learn To Play Phat Chords



I have also found a great Tutorial: Gospel Harmonization technique to get phat chords!!! Listen to some beautiful sounding passing chords and Phat Chords!



If you would like to learn about E minor9 chords, where you add F#, or how to play a G minor11, or adding B to an A2 voicing, watch this video. Keep in mind that the 9th and minor 3rd give that great dissonance sound that make up our Phat Chords! Hope you enjoy the study, I know I did!






http://www.LadyDpiano.com