Explaining Progressions Part 3
O.K., so far we have learned about how to anticipate what chord will come next and what possible chords can be built of each of the scale degrees 1-7. Have you ever thought about what chords to play on the scale degrees that lie in-between the scale degrees 1-7? Well, that's what this post is going to be about. Some people may call these filler chords, or passing chords, or whatever other name there is. I'm going to call them tweeners.
Just in case you are lost already, I'll explain what in-between scale degrees I'm talking aobut. Now, in the major scale, once you have your starting note, you move 1 step to get the next note, right? Well, moving 1 step also means moving two 1/2 steps. Example:
C (WS) D
or
C (HS) C# (HS) D
We already know what chords we can play for the C and D notes, but what about that C# note? It doesn't lie in the major scale, but it is still technically a scale degree. And since it is a scale degree, that means we can build a chord off it. Are yall wit me now? So, anytime you move 1 step to get your next note, you have this note in-between that gets skipped, but it is still a scale degree. So, now I'm going to give you some chords that I use when these scale degrees are played in the bass:
*Note: these scale degrees will be notated using sharps and flats because different keys will use different accidentals. That menas that a note may be a #_ in one key, but it may be a b_ in another key. Also, it will be assumed that you have already learned what chords are built off the regular scale degrees.
#1 / b2 in the bass
This scale degree is located 1/2 step above 1 and/or 1/2 step below 2. Here are some chords that I have found that go good with this bass note:
C# / A-C#-E (#1) *altered 6 chord in RH (C has been raised 1/2 step forming a major chord, chord is an A major)
C# / C#-E-G-Bb (#1) *altered dom. 7th chord built off 1in RH (C has been raised 1/2 step forming a fully diminished 7th chord, chord is a C#dim7)
Db / Db-E-G-Bb (b2) *same chord as above
#2 / b3 in the bass
This scale degree is located 1/2 step above 2 and/or 1/2 step below 3. Here are some chords that I have found that go good with this bass note:
Eb / G-C#-F-A (b3) *altered 4 chord in RH (this is an augmented 4 chord with an added 9th, together the chord is an F9 (#5))
D# / D#-F#-A-C (#2) *altered dom. 7th chord built off 2 in RH (D has been raised 1/2 step forming a fully diminished 7th chord, chord is a D#dim7)
Eb / Eb-Gb-A-C (b3) *same chord as above
#4 / b5 in the bass
This scale degree is located 1/2 step above 4 and/or 1/2 step below 5. Here are some chords that I have found that go good with this bass note:
F# / D-F#-A (#4) *altered 2 chord in RH (F has been raised 1/2 step forming a major chord, chord is an D major)
F# / F#-A-C-Eb (#4) *altered dom. 7th chord built on 4 in RH (F has been raised 1/2 step forming a fully diminished 7th chord, chord is a F#dim7)
Gb / Gb-A-C-Eb (b5) *same as chord above
#5 / b6 in the bass
This scale degree is located 1/2 step above 5 and/or 1/2 step below 6. Here are some chords that I have found that go good with this bass note:
G# / E-G#-B (#5) *altered 6 chord in RH (the G has been raised 1/2 step forming a major chord, chord is an E major)
G# / B-D#-F# (#5) *altered 7 chord in RH (D and F have been raised 1/2 step forming a major chord, together chord is a G#m7)
G# / G#-B-D-F (#5) *altered dom. 7th chord built on 5 in RH (the G has been raised 1/2 step forming a fully diminished 7th chord, chord is a G#dim7)
Ab / Ab-B-D-F (b6) *same as chord above
Ab / Ab-C-Eb (b6) *altered 6 chord in RH (everthing has been lowered 1/2 step forming a major chord, chord is an Ab major)
#6 / b7 in the bass
This scale degree is located 1/2 step above 6 and/or 1/2 step below 7. Here are some chords that I have found that go good with this bass note:
Bb / Bb-D-F (b7) *altered 7 chord (the B has been lowered 1/2 step forming a major chord, chord is a B major)
Bb / C-E-G (b7) * altered 1 chord (m7th has been added and is played in the bass, together chord is a C7/Bb or C dominant 7th w/Bb in the bass)
Alrighty then, go through this carefully and pay attention. Let your ears be the judge of when and how to use these. If anyone wants to add on to this list, feel free to do so. If anyone has any questions about this, just ask me and I will do my best to answer it for you.
