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Using Chord Progressions

In our first two composition lessons, we discovered and explored a basic method of creating music. By starting with just a few notes, we created a full melody and then added harmony to that melody. In this next lesson, we will start with the harmony first and then create a melody to play over that harmony.

If you are not familiar with many chords, we strongly advise you to review all the chords in the Harmony chapters of our Theory section before you proceed with this chapter. When you feel you have a variety of chords at your command, you can commence with this composition chapter.

Choosing Chords

There are two approaches you can take when deciding what chords to use:

Method 1. The first approach involves simply placing one chord after another. This requires some practice and experience, since your placement of chords in a specific order will create a specific emotion.

Method 2. The second approach involves employing commonly used chord progressions. For the current lesson, we will choose Method 2.

Common Chord Progressions

A chord progression means just what its name implies: a series of chords, one leading or "progressing" to another. Pop, jazz and classical music are filled with chord progressions that we use over and over again, from piece to piece. There is nothing wrong with taking advantage of these tried and true formulas. Composers often recycle common chord progressions for one reason: they work.

Harmony

Review