Here is a little drill that I thought may help with getting progressions down in your head. In order to accomplish this, you will need to know your major scales and be familiar with the complete number system.
As most of you have learned already, the musical ZIP CODE (# system) is 3-6-2-5-1. To complete the list two more are added: (7)-3-6-2-5-1-(4) This completed number system contains all the basic progressions in raw form that you will find not only in gospel music, but in all music.
Now, on to the drill. It is very easy to catch on to, once you get the hang of it. I'll break it down step-by-step:
1. Pick any note
2. Start by saying that note is the first number in the completed # system
3. Fill-in the rest of the notes to complete the number system based off the note u picked in step 1.
4. Take that same note from step 1, then go to step 2 and say it's the second number in the number system, then go to step 3 again.
5. Repeat step 4 until the note from step 1 has been each of the numbers of the completed # system.
6. Start all over again from step 1 using a different note.
Is that clear? Probably not (LOL), so here's the illustrated version:
1. Pick any note
C2. Start by saying that note is the first number in the completed # system
C = 73. Fill-in the rest of the notes to complete the number system based off the note u picked in step 1.
C = 7 C = 7_ = 3 F = 3
_ = 6 Bb = 6
_ = 2 Eb = 2
_ = 5 Ab = 5
_ = 1 Db = 1
_ = 4 Gb = 4
4. Take that same note from step 1, then go to step 2 and say it's the second number in the completed # system, then go to step 3 again.
_ = 7 G = 7
C = 3 C = 3_ = 6 F = 6
_ = 2 Bb = 2
_ = 5 Eb = 5
_ = 1 Ab = 1
_ = 4 Db = 4
5. Repeat step 4 until the note from step 1 has been through each of the numbers of the completed # system.
_ = 7 D = 7
_ = 3 G = 3
C = 6 C = 6_ = 2 F = 2
_ = 5 Bb = 5
_ = 1 Eb = 1
_ = 4 Ab = 4
_ = 7 A = 7
_ = 3 D = 3
_ = 6 G = 6
C = 2 C = 2_ = 5 F = 5
_ = 1 Bb = 1
_ = 4 Eb = 4
_ = 7 E = 7
_ = 3 A = 3
_ = 6 D = 6
_ = 2 G = 2
C = 5 C = 5_ = 1 F = 1
_ = 4 Bb = 4
_ = 7 B = 7
_ = 3 E = 3
_ = 6 A = 6
_ = 2 D = 2
_ = 5 G = 5
C = 1 C = 1_ = 4 F = 4
_ = 7 F# = 7
_ = 3 B = 3
_ = 6 E = 6
_ = 2 A = 2
_ = 5 D = 5
_ = 1 G = 1
C = 4 C = 46. Start all over again from step 1 using a different note.
C# = 7 C# = 7_ = 3 F#= 3
_ = 6 B = 6
_ = 2 E = 2
_ = 5 A = 5
_ = 1 D = 1
_ = 4 G = 4
_ = 7 G# = 7
C# = 3 C# = 3_ = 6 F# = 6
_ = 2 B = 2
_ = 5 E = 5
_ = 1 A = 1
_ = 4 D = 4
etc.
Notice how the notes change as you make your note a different number in the # system. If you want, you can make a drill sheet for yourself using the pattern below and go through all your notes. Just copy and paste it onto whatever computer program u use (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, etc.):
_ = 7 _ = 7
_ = 3 _ = 3
_ = 6 _ = 6
_ = 2 _ = 2
_ = 5 _ = 5
_ = 1 _ = 1
_ = 4 _ = 4
I garauntee that after going through this drill a few times, you will not only know your progressions better, but you will be reinforcing your major scales at the same time. Any questions, feel free to ask me!!!
