Question about chord progressions?

[ctgrad98]

I hear alot about chord progressions but how are they actually used. Are they used as the melody? Are they used between the melody? When playing chord progressions let's take the I-IV-V progression am I supposed to just play the I-chord CEG, the IV-chord FAC, and the V-chord GBD thoughout the whole song? :?

I hear alot about chord progressions but how are they actually used. Are they used as the melody? Are they used between the melody? When playing chord progressions let's take the I-IV-V progression am I supposed to just play the I-chord CEG, the IV-chord FAC, and the V-chord GBD thoughout the whole song? :?

Are they used as the melody? THEY CAN BE.
Are they used between the melody? THEY CAN BE.

ALL DEPENDS ON THE SONG LET'S TAKE YOUR 1_4_5

CEG_FAC_GBD

NOW, DEPENDING ON THE SONG, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PASSING CHORDS FOR THEM:
CG / CEG
ED / EGC
FC / FAC
GbE / GbAD
GD / GBD
BA / BDG
CG / CEG

NOW THAT'S A NICE LITTLE DRILL FOR YOU TO PRATICE.

5_1_4__2_5_1___7_3_6, ARE PROGRESSIONS THAT WILL BRING YOU INTO THE DESIRED CHORD, LOOK AT THE LAST NUMBER, ONES A "4", THEN "1", THEN "6'
IN THE KEY OF C ,THAT WOULD EQUATE TO: C, F, AND A.
SO WE'LL DO THIS:

CG / CEG
GD / FABbD = 5
CBb / EGC = 1
FC / FAC = 4
DA / GbACEb = 2
GD / FACE = 5
EBb / EGC = 1
BF / ADF = 7
EB / AbBDF = 3
AD / Am7 = 6

HOPE THIS HELPED.

[2octaves]

Greetings in the name of Jesus.
ctgrad - I understand what you mean I am busy running through the 1-4-5
progression in my keyboard class at present, and can show you how to apply it to a song, maybe a song I am currently using but I really hope you know this song it will make it much easier. Let me know if you heard this song before it is a small choruss called "Give me the power to hold on" and we can take it from there.Remember it will be very basic.

Hammondman & others I like to add to this question by asking how can I spice up my 1-4-5 progression I know you mentioned something like passing chords but what else can I use and how do you identify what is the best thing to add to the progression.

Thanks
Mike

[ctgrad98]

Hammondman, Thanks for the insight I think I have the concept now.

2octaves, No I don't know that song. Is it a hymn, or congregational song?  I'm pretty sure someone I know...knows it and they can give me the correct melody...So, if you can post it or something else of the sort it will be much apprectiated.

Thanks,
Ctgrad

[2octaves]

I don't have my book in front of me but I will try my best, you see this is the advantage of playing by ear you can right the songs down without having sheet music in front of you, but I still have a long way 2 go.
Let's do it in Cmajor here is the scale
C D E F G A B C
1  2 3 4 5 6 7  8      we want the 1-4-5 progression so we use
C major C-E-G (1) F major F-A-C (4) G major G-B-D (5) this in the RH
in the left hand you hand 2 options play the same chords or the 1st chord
of each major chord like C for CEG or F for FAC or G for GBD

Give me the power to hold on to hold on to hold on to hold on to hold on
1(CEG)        4(FAC)               1(CEG)          5(GBD)           1(CEG)
to hold on to Jesus (repeat X4)
1(CEG)                             don't forget to add the bass notes in your LH

tip : not to jump around while playing these notes you can play them in the inversion so you can play the following from
1(CEG) to 4(FAC) play CFA (2nd inversion) back to 1(CEG) to 5(BDG)1inversion this way you don't have to move too much on the keyboard.

After you done try and play the same thing in a different key like F,G,D using the number system Hammondman is always talking about.
Hope this is clear enough if you don't understand let me know. Try and get a couple of small chorusses you use in church and we can try working that out it will make it must easier 4 you.
Mike(SouthAfrica)

[ctgrad98]

Thanks, I'll give it a try once I go home.

[aljeres]

IN REPLY to a way to spice up their 1-4-5 progression!!!!!!!!! well it's simple but highly effective.............it's called walking......................try just walking as if you were going from your one to your four, or three to the six.... you can do this by a Major_minor_major walk....................or a minor diminish minor walk................gieres!!!!!!!!!!!!!