Chord Logic

[danglybanger]

Alright... I'm seriously working on songwriting right now. But I've figured out that there must be some kind of logic to piecing chords next to each other and have them sound good (rather than the meandering messes I usually wind up with).

I've been practicing and working in terms of the key of C mostly, just because I know it best and its easiest to visuallize. From some deductive sort of logic and visuallization on the keyboard, I seem to have "discovered" a kind of universal chord progression that flows very nicely.

C-Am-F-Dm-B(?)-G-Em-C

(? added after I reallized I didn't quite know what kind of B chord is in the C scale... god I'm dumb)

I had noticed that those particular chords seemed to "make sense" most often next to each other, but really this doesn't help me much.

Do some people just have an ear for this kind of stuff? Is there some sort of real mathematical logic here, or do I just have to develop a sense for what chords will sound best where?

thanks,

slade

 

[Mincer]

Re: Chord Logic

some have an ear, but mostly it is more like math- a skill you practice, recognizing patterns, etc...

that B would be B diminished, although it might not be what you want. B dim 'leads' your ear to C. The B dim chord contains a B, D & F. A G7 chord, which resolves to C, contains G, B, D, F...see the similarities? So, a B dim chord can be a substitute for a G, or G7, which resolves to a C. So, in your example, the B (dim) wouldn't usually have a G after it, since they both want to go to C. However, if you reversed the Em & G (Em contains 2 notes in a C chord, kind of a 'soft resolution') it could work.

Throwing all of this out, if whatever you play sounds good, use it.

 

[Fretology]

Re: Chord Logic

Hi, I'm new here....I found this place by way of Kamanda......Hi Kamanda!

C-Am-F-Dm-B(?)-G-Em-C

The reason this may sound good to you (
C-Am-F-Dm-B(?)-G-Em-C) is because (you know this already) you are playing a chord progression in the key of C.

I'll try to explain it like this in Roman Numeral terms which is commonly used to discuss Chords.
First a little Roman number basics - A capitalized Roman number depicts a Major Chord and a small case depicts a minor or diminished chord.

In a Major scale there are only 3 Major chords the rest are minor and one diminished.
Like this in Roman terms: I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-viio
Chords built at I, IV,V (1 , 4, 5) are Major (if you build your chord right which is another topic)
Chords built at ii,iii,vi are minor
Chord built at vii is diminished depicted also with a small "0" after it.

There are rules for chord progressions but we are not theorists here (and rules are made to be broken) so basically we can make our own progressions.....which you did and it looks like this in Roman Numbers : I iv IV ii vii(d im) V iii I

You are playing a chord progression in the key of C so it sounds some what reasonable it would sound decent. The only thing I can suggest is that you play around a bit with it and instead of ending it by going from iii (Em) to I (C)....try IV (F) To I(C)
or vii to I
or V to I
You will hear more resolution with those.....and it's great to change things up in a song anyway.

I hope this helps.
Fret

 

[Bludave]

Re: Chord Logic

A good option to study chord theory is to study and learn the circle of 5ths. The circle of 5ths has a relationship to key signatures as well as guide you in chord theory as well as what chords can be used in a given key. Rather than try to elpain it in a post. Take a look at this and see if it helps.
http://www.ezfolk.com/guitar/Tutorials/Music_Theory/Circle_of_5ths/circle_of_5ths.html

 

[Robbiedbee]

Re: Chord Logic

Welcome to the forum, Fretology!

Awesome first post! That was really good, I learned much from it. I never understood how it worked until now.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Chord Logic

yeah, I understood them all being in the key of C... I picked out that particular set of chords because each chord shares two notes with the chords around it, and it seemed very logical...

I never did understand the roman numeral system or the fact that there was a pattern to the minors and (now I know ) diminished chords in the scale. Circle of fifths... I'll take a look and report back

slade

 

[Fretology]

Re: Chord Logic

Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I like to help out.
Thanks for the kind words.


I also want to add that in my previous post when I was talking about the different types of reolutions.....and playing around with them .... forgot to say that those resolutions are called "cadences". You can't have a song without them!

take it easy guys,
Fret

 

[Fretology]

Re: Chord Logic

Woops I made a booboo in the translation of your chord progression. I said yours was: I iv IV ii vii(d im) V iii I ..... But it should be: I vi IV ii vii(d im) V iii I .....sorry bout that.....the difference is the iv and vi chords in the second chord spot.

Fret