Chord progressions

[SpecialEd]

There you go Gard that is just what needs to be said I have been sitting here trying to think of somthing to add to that but I think that you got just about all of it.

 

[Howard K]

My question is though, why is that? How can each chord have a mixolydian tonal center, and then sound good? (It's one of those "I know how to play it, but don't understand how it works" questions here )

I'd always presumed that rock sounded good in the same way that the sun felt nice of my skin and didnt question it, but now I want to know the answer too.

 

[Gard]

Originally posted by LiquidMidnight


Yes, I remember argueing with someone once that when you play most blues/rock based songs, each chord in the progression is treated as though it has a flatted 7th. (though you might not always be playing a b7, it's treated as if it's there) He said that it couldn't be because each 7th wouldn't be resolved, but I played blues long enough to know about the flatted 7th in each chord.

My question is though, why is that? How can each chord have a mixolydian tonal center, and then sound good? (It's one of those "I know how to play it, but don't understand how it works" questions here )

Here's my lame attempt at answering this for LM & Howard -



The way I look at this is I treat each chord change as essentially a key change. Particularly in a blues, you are moving in relatively common "key change" motions (up or down a 4th, up or down a 5th), and you are spending at least a measure on each chord, so you have ample time to "explore" the key of the moment. In blues progressions, the difference between each chord/key change (with the exception of the IV-V change) is one note in the key:

I - IV
C7: C D E F G A Bb
F7: F G A Bb C D Eb

V - I, I - V
G7: G A B C D E F
C7: C D E F G A Bb

Hope that makes sense....

 

[SpecialEd]

correct me if i am wrong: But my presumtion is that if you have a chord (say Cmaj) you could play pretty much any note in the key of C and theroeticly it should sound good. Or is that not it and I am wrong?

 

[Pacman]

Originally posted by SpecialEd
correct me if i am wrong: But my presumtion is that if you have a chord (say Cmaj) you could play pretty much any note in the key of C and theroeticly it should sound good. Or is that not it and I am wrong?

Your wrong

Seriously, play an F against that chord and see what happens. What you've really got to think of is 1) chord tones and 2) chord function and 3) resolution.

I guess thoretically, you could play any note against any chord as long as you resolve it correctly.

 

[Gard]

Originally posted by Pacman


Your wrong

Seriously, play an F against that chord and see what happens. What you've really got to think of is 1) chord tones and 2) chord function and 3) resolution.

I guess thoretically, you could play any note against any chord as long as you resolve it correctly.

"There are no wrong notes, only bad resolutions."

 

[jazzbo]

Originally posted by Pacman


Your wrong

Seriously, play an F against that chord and see what happens. What you've really got to think of is 1) chord tones and 2) chord function and 3) resolution.

I guess thoretically, you could play any note against any chord as long as you resolve it correctly.

Which brings me back to the Lydian mode point.

 

[Pacman]

Originally posted by jazzbo


Which brings me back to the Lydian mode point.

Hey, I knew what you were talking about. I'm one of the people who agree that Lydian is the "true major" scale

 

[SpecialEd]

So then Mr. Guru:
How then do you know which notes are the "good or correct" notes to play aginst a chord? Take for example: When I look at Gmaj7 what notes should come to my mind and how do I go about gaining this profound knowledge? So shead some light on this subject. Please

 

[Pacman]

Lessons And by stepping on your crank.

Mainly, you've got to listen. Start with the chord tones (they're going to sound great against the chord because they're IN the chord). I'd recommend some of the Jamie Abersold records at this point, or even Band In A Box.

 

[SpecialEd]

thanks
groovy
old
guy

 

[Pacman]

You had to pull out the "old" thing didn't you, whippersnapper?

 

[SpecialEd]

you bet
that is how the past comes back to haunt you

 

[BigBohn]

If you're school has a music theory class, take it. I know it's helped me move along alot.