Explaining Progressions Part 2
In order to have a good, strong sounding progression, you should stay as close to the progression ZIP CODE as possible. The progression ZIP CODE is 3-6-2-5-1. The reason why it is so strong is because each note moves in 4ths. The 3 leads to the 6, the 6 leads to the 2, the 2 leads to the 5, and the 5 leads you right back home to 1. Studying the circle of 4ths (circle of 5ths in reverse) will help with learning the ZIP CODE cuz as it's name says, each note moves in 4ths. Here is the illustration:
Circle of 5ths Circle of 4ths
C C
G F
D Bb
A Eb
E Ab
B Db / C#
F# / Gb Gb / F#
C# / Db B
Ab E
Eb A
Bb D
F G
(repeat) (repeat)
Now, most people understand what the progression numbers mean. It tells what LH / bass notes to play for a song. What most people don't understand is what to play in the RH. Well, I have been playing and studying progressions for a while, and I have decided to shed some more light on this issue. If you have no idea where to start, then all you have to do is get out your list of chords that are built off the scale degrees in the major scale. Just to refresh your memory, here they are again:
chord built off 1st scale degree = major (1 chord)
chord built off 2nd scale degree = minor (2 chord)
chord built off 3rd scale degree = minor (3 chord)
chord built off 4th scale degree = major (4 chord)
chord built off 5th scale degree = major (5 chord)
chord built off 6th scale degree = minor (6 chord)
chord built off 7th scale degree = diminished (7 chord)
Believe it or not, these 7 chords is the basis for the RH part of the progression. You just need to mix-n-match chords with different LH / bass notes to find what you are looking for. Normally, I would tell u to experiment with them, but I have made it even simpler for you beginners out there. I have done the experimenting, and here are some guidelines as to what chords I found go good with what LH / bass notes. Examples will be in the key of C:
1 in the LH / bass
When there is a 1 being played in the bass, just about any chord can go with if. But, your best choice chords to start with are the 1 chord, 2 chord, 4 chord, and 5 chord. From there, you can alter them to fit your sound:
C / C-E-G *1 chord in RH
C / D-F-A *2 chord in RH
C / F-A-C *4 chord in RH
C / G-B-D *5 chord in RH
Here are a few altered chords that go good with 1 in the bass:
C / C-D-E-G *altered 1 chord in RH (chord is a Cadd9)
C / G#-C-D-F *altered 2 chord in RH (chord is a Dm7 b5)
C / D-F#-A *altered 2 chord in RH (chord is a D major, together chord is a D7)
C / C-E-G-Bb *altered 1 chord in RH (chord is a C7)
C / Bb-E-A-C *altered 1 chord in RH (chord is a C13)
C / F-Bb-D *altered 5 chord in RH (chord is a Bb major, but it is acting like a Gm7 w/out the root)
C / G-Bb-D-F *altered 5 chord in RH (chord is a Gm7)
4 in the LH / bass
When there is a 4 being played in the bass, your best choice chords to start with are the 1 chord, chord, 4 chord, 5 chord, and 6 chord. From there, you can alter them to fit your sound:
F / C-E-G *1 chord in RH
F / F-A-C *4 chord in RH
F / G-B-D *5 chord in RH (together chord is a G7)
F / A-C-E *6 chord in RH (together chord is an Fmaj7)
Here are a couple altered chords that go good with 4 in the bass:
F / F-G-A-C *altered 4 chord in RH (chord is an Fadd9)
F / E-F-G-C *altered 4 chord in RH (chord is Csus4)
7 in the LH / bass
When there is a 7 being played in the bass, your best choice chords to start with are the 2 chord and 5 chord. From there, you can alter them to fit your sound:
B / D-F-A *2 chord in RH (together chord is a Bm7 b5)
B / G-B-D *5 chord in RH (together chord is a G major)
Here are a couple altered chords that go good with 7 in the bass:
B / A-D-E *altered 2 chord in RH (chord is a Dm sus)
B / F#-A-C#-E *altered 2 chord w/out root in RH (w/out root, chord is an F#m7; w/root, chord is a D9)
3 in the LH / bass
When there is a 3 being played in the bass, your best choice chords to start with are the 3 chord, 5 chord, and 7 chord. From there, you can alter them to fit your sound:
E / E-G-B *3 chord in RH
E / G-B-D *5 chord in RH (together chord is an Em7)
E / B-D-F *7 chord in RH
Here are a few altered chords that go good with 3 in the bass:
E / F-G#-B-D *altered 7 chord in RH (chord is a Bdim7, or B fully diminished chord)
E / G#-C-D-G *altered 3 chord w/root in bass (together the chord is an E7 #5 #9)
E / G#-B-D-E *altered 3 chord w/root in bass (together the chord is E7)
E / G#-C-D-E *altered 3 chord w/root in bass (together the chord is E7 #5)
6 in the LH / bass
When there is a 3 being played in the bass, your best choice chords to start with are the 1 chord, 3 chord, 4 chord, 5 chord, and 6 chord. From there, you can alter them to fit your sound:
A / C-E-G *1 chord in RH (together chord is an Am7)
A / E-G-B *3 chord in RH
A / F-A-C *4 chord in RH (together chord is an Fmajor)
A / G-B-D *5 chord in RH
A / A-C-E *6 chord in RH
Here are a few altered chords that go good with 6 in the bass:
A / G-B-C-E *altered 1 chord in RH (chord is a Cmaj7, together chord is an Am9)
A / G-A#-C#-E *altered 3 chord in RH (chord is an Edim7 or E fully diminished chord)
A / B-C-D-G *altered 5 chord in RH (chord is a Gsus4, together chord is an Am add9)
2 in the LH / bass
When there is a 3 being played in the bass, your best choice chords to start with are the 2 chord, 3 chord, 4 chord, and 6 chord. From there, you can alter them to fit your sound:
D / D-F-A *2 chord in RH
D / E-G-B *3 chord in RH
D / F-A-C *4 chord in RH (together chord is a Dm7)
D / A-C-E *6 chord in RH
Here are a few altered chords that go good with 2 in the bass:
D / F#-A-C-E *altered 2 chord in RH (chord is an F#m7 b5 or F# half-diminished, together chord is Dm9 b5)
D / F#-A-C-D# *altered 6 chord in RH (chord is an Adim7 or A fully diminished, togethe chord is D7 b9)
D / E-G#-B *altered 3 chord in RH (chord is an E major, together they form a stacked/layered chord)
D / A-C-E-G *altered 6 chord in RH (chord is an Am7)
5 in the LH / bass
When there is a 3 being played in the bass, your best choice chords to start with are the 1 chord, 4 chord, 5 chord, and 7 chord. From there, you can alter them to fit your sound:
G / C-E-G *1 chord in RH (together chord is a C major)
G / F-A-C *4 chord in RH
G / G-B-D *5 chord in RH
G / B-D-F *7 chord in RH (together chord is a G7 or G dominant 7th)
Here are a few altered chords that go good with 5 in the bass:
G / G-A-B-D *altered 5 chord in RH (chord is a Gadd9)
G / F-G-C-D *altered 5 chord in RH (chord is a G7sus)
G / F-G-B-D# *altered 5 chord in RH (chord is a G7 #5)
G / F-G#-B-D *altered 7 chord in RH (chord is a Bdim7 or a B fully diminished)
G / F-A-C-E *altered 4 chord in RH (chord is an Fmaj7)
G / F-B-E-G *altered 5 chord in RH (together chord is a G13)
G / B-D#-F-A# *altered 7 chord in RH (together chord is a G7 #5 #9)
As you go through the list, notice that it is moving in 4ths, 1-4-7-3-6-2-5. Now that you have a list of possible RH chords that can go with each LH / bass note, it is up to yall to figure out how to use them. Like i said ealier, these are just the chords that I personally use and they can work for you too, if you practice.
Also, even though I've done most of the hard work for yall, yall still need to study to show thyselves approved. Some of the names I give to some chords in symbol form may not look like it's correct at first glance, but if you manipulate certain notes, you will find that they are correct.
