Chord Progressions

Here, we will explore some chord progressions or sequences of different chord combinations.

Lets look at all the white keys starting on C. If we play each white key from C to C we will have

C D E F G A B C

Lets number each note

C: 1
D: 2
E: 3
F: 4
G: 5
A: 6
B: 7
C: 8

• Play each note from C to C. You have just played a C major scale.

When we play chord progressions, we number the chords like above so a triad built from C is 1, D is 2 etc.

Here are the chords in the key of C

1: C major  (C E G)
2: D minor  (D F A)
3: E minor  (E G B)
4: F major  (F A C)
5: G major (G B D)
6: A minor  (A C E)
7: B diminished  (B D F)

Here are some chord progressions. Play and record them all

• 1, 4, 5  or  C   F   G  (we know this progression by now)
• 1, 6, 2, 5  or  C   Am   Dm   G 
• 1, 3, 4, 2  or  C   Em   F   Dm
• 2, 6, 1, 5  or  Dm   Am   C   G
• 6, 4, 3, 5  or  Am   F   Em   G

• Make up at least 2 more chord progressions using at least 3 chords in each.