Basic Minor Worship Progression

[B3Wannabe]

When playing minor, try to think like you're playing in the major of the key.

Eb Aeolian (Gb Major):

Eb \ Gb
Ab \ CbMaj7
F-Eb \ Abm
Bb \ Bb7 (modified, instead of Bbm7, because it makes the minor stand out)
(repeat)

If you look at the key as Gb Ionian, then the progression is:

6-2-7-3

In Eb Aeolian, the progression would be:

1-4-2-5

To make it more full, you can do any leading progression, like a 5-1-4 (when going to the 4) or 7-3-6 (when going to the 2).

There you have it, when playing minor, think major.

[sjonathan02]

When playing minor, try to think like you're playing in the major of the key.

Eb Aeolian (Gb Major):

Eb \ Gb
Ab \ CbMaj7
F-Eb \ Abm
Bb \ Bb7 (modified, instead of Bbm7, because it makes the minor stand out)
(repeat)

If you look at the key as Gb Ionian, then the progression is:

6-2-7-3

In Eb Aeolian, the progression would be:

1-4-2-5

To make it more full, you can do any leading progression, like a 5-1-4 (when going to the 4) or 7-3-6 (when going to the 2).

There you have it, when playing minor, think major.

Ya might wanna explain what Aeolian is/means.

[B3Wannabe]

Ya might wanna explain what Aeolian is/means.

Google is your friend. But I know you already know the answer, so you must be trying to help out those who don't know Google yet.

Aeolian is the natural minor mode of Gb major. I actually don't like the title "natural" because there are other minors that are "naturally" there too, but I didn't make the system. This mode is used at the end of James Hall's song, "The Blood".

Another easy mode to play in is Dorian.

Ab Dorian (Gb Major):

Ab \ Gb (or Cb)
Db \ Db7
Bb \ Bbm7
Eb \ Eb7 (or Ebm7, but I still like the dominant better)
(repeat)

This time, since the key is Dorian. I like this one too, because it adds that twist on the 4 chord. I like to play around in the mode a bit, before going back to the tonic (1) to make the music sound more uplifting. This makes it easier to play this mode during a service without sounding like you're trying to raise demons, instead ushering the Holy Ghost. Too many minors doesn't sound good, unless there are some very good vocals over it. (James Hall). Maybe it's my own ears, but when I do this it seems like the "Hallelujah's" of the audience becomes synchronized with the tonic.

You can do the same thing with Phrygian and Locrian, but Locrian isn't as stable, so it sounds like you're playing major anyway. The key to learning to play modal, is learning all of your diatonic chords. You can also still use any passing chords you would normally use when moving in the Ionian.