STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Blue Calx

Blue Calx

Squackman
Ok, just for curiosity's sake, and for being able to know exactly what i'm doing when trying to lay melody over it... please classify this chord progression that I happened upon last night:

Am7, Dmaj7, Cmaj7

What makes sense to me is that it's vi-ii-I in the key of C, but wouldn't the ii chord have to be minor, and not a maj7?

What gives?
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

These sound nice together.. I think this modulates to the key of G but don't quote me :D
 
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Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

I was playing it like this: Am7, Dmaj7 alternating for 3 measures, then the Cmaj7 takes up the entire 4th measure.

I do like it, but I still don't know where to take it, because it's still as of yet (to me anyway) undefined progression.
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Blue Calx said:
I was playing it like this: Am7, Dmaj7 alternating for 3 measures, then the Cmaj7 takes up the entire 4th measure.
I do like it, but I still don't know where to take it, because it's still as of yet (to me anyway) undefined progression.
Click to expand...
Try this. Go around twice and add a D note to the Cmaj7 chord on the 2nd half of the 4th measure, then play Gmaj for 2 beats, Bmin 2 beats, then Dmaj for a full measure.
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

oh, my, what did you do there, steveo? It became a completely different tune!

that whole G, Bm, D part sounds really cool when you repeat it, but as a "turnaround" play the single notes: d, e, d, a as the last 4 eighth notes before the repeat. (or maybe the bass could do that?)
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Blue Calx said:
as a "turnaround" play the single notes: d, e, d, a as the last 4 eighth notes before the repeat.
Click to expand...
ok that sounds cool, playing those notes on the E and B strings (like d suspended)

then try this.. um, maybe :D Amin 4 beats, Bmin 4 beats, Cmaj 4 beats, and then hold Amaj 4 beats, then back to the beginning Am7.
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Actually, I was thinking frets 5, 7 and 0 on the A string, but up high works too.

I have no idea how you get away with sticking that Amaj in there and still have it sound good right next to the Am7. is this what the french call 'modulation'??????
 
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Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Am7, Dmaj7, Cmaj7, eh?

You could consider Am7 A dorian, which would make the transition Am7 to Dmaj7 a modulation from G major to D major. And the transition from Dmaj7 to Cmaj7 a modulation from D major back to G major.

To illustrate...
Am7 = A-dorian (G major)
Dmaj7 = D-Ionian (D major)
Cmaj7 = C-lydian (G major)

Congrats, you've just discovered modulation using the circle of fifths.
Nice sounding progression btw.
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

oh, wow, you had to bring modes into it, didn't you? :D
So what you're saying is that the Dmaj7 is pretty much "out of place" but just happens to sound right anyway?

One day, I'm gonna have a grasp on this stuff!
 
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Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

so how would one improvise over it? A dorian, D Ionian, C lydian?
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Blue Calx said:
oh, wow, you had to bring modes into it, didn't you? :D
So what you're saying is that the Dmaj7 is pretty much "out of place" but just happens to sound right anyway?

One day, I'm gonna have a grasp on this stuff!
Click to expand...
The Dmaj7 is "out of place" in the sense the maj7 (C#) isn't in the key of G.
As pointed out, when you modulate thru the circle of fifths to the key of D, the C# is then included. The one note difference between those two keys is the C vs. the C#.

You can usually grab that one note difference from a "next door neighbor" key and add a nice flavor to the original key.
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Don't know if this helps answer you question, but this is how I visualize
the modulations from one key to the next in either direction.

Circle Of Fifths:
---------------
Key of G: G A B C D E F# G
Key of D: D E F# G A B C# D

From key of G to key of D, you sharpen the fourth (i.e. C to C#).

Circle of Fourths:
-----------------
Key of D: D E F# G A B C# D
Key of G: G A B C D E F# G

For key of D to key of G, you flatten the seventh (i.e. C# to C).
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

AAAAAAH, ok, and that works because the two keys are cycle of fifths neighbors (having only one sharp difference between them)! Like borrowing from your neighbor.

Thanks a whole messload, you guys, I think I'm gettin' it.
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

Excellent thread guys, very intuitive even to an outsider. I have been swimming in the circle of 5ths/4ths for awhile now and certainly enjoy fresh real-world examples. I Really like the progression as well! This is the type of thread I would like to see more of on this forum!!
 
Re: STILL trying to figure out how keys/progressions work

God I love theory! Moments like this make me feel grateful that I've been taking lessons for the past 2 1/2 years.
 
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