Learning Targets
Learn how to use common chord progressions
General
Writing a chord progression can be as simple as using the tonic, subdominant, dominant, and then back to tonic.
I-IV-V-I
Easy! You can add embellishments like another tonic (vi).
I-vi-IV-V
This is one of the most common chord progressions ever! This is also known as the 50's progression, ice cream chords, or the doo-wop changes. This chord progression had it's own song in the musical "Grease".
I-IV-V-I
Easy! You can add embellishments like another tonic (vi).
I-vi-IV-V
This is one of the most common chord progressions ever! This is also known as the 50's progression, ice cream chords, or the doo-wop changes. This chord progression had it's own song in the musical "Grease".
You can swap out chords for another chord of the same type. However, these are just guidelines and not hard and fast rules. Harmony is flexible, but this provides a good framework.
The four chord Song
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Another incredibly popular chord progression is I-V-vi-VI. The chord progression moves from the tonic, to dominant, to tonic, and then to the subdominant. There isn't a strong sense of finality in this chord progression. The song can just go on and on and on!