Chord progressions and inspiration

23 Jul 2005, 06:01

I don't know about the rest of you, but every once in a while I come across a new chord progression (normally by just fooling around on my X7) and find that it inspires a whole song. With this in mind I thought it would be a good idea for us all to share one or two of our favourite chord progressions so that they might inspire someone else. To this end, I'll get the ball rolling by listing two of my current favourites. I don't read music, and my own form of shorthand is usually nothing more than the chord with the accompanying bass note in brackets.

1) This actually inspired my song "All of this time" which is on my website. This part is the chorus:

D(D) ...
Gm(D#) ... F(D) ... Cm7(C) ... C#(Bb) ...
Em(C#) ... Gm(C) ... D(D) D(C) G(G) ... Em(F)

2) Another one which is yet to become a full song:

Cm(C) Gm(D#) Dm(D) Gm4(D#)
Cm(C) Gm(D#) F(F) F(F)

"Gm4" is probably the wrong name but it's the notes G A# and C.

Obviously, where the bass notes differ from the chord root, the effect is to create an "open" 7th or 9th chord. Anyone else care to share?

)

Dave

http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Dave

:: http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/ :: http://www.myspace.com/daveboulden ::
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

24 Jul 2005, 04:45

Anyone???

Dave

http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Dave

:: http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/ :: http://www.myspace.com/daveboulden ::
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

24 Jul 2005, 06:49

I'll have listen to that chord progression soon.

I guess the note in brakets is bass.

As in Em over C# Em(C#)

With the chords ar building a standard triad above as in

For D = D - F# - A

F = F - A - C

Cm7 = C - E - G - B

I am having a little trouble reading the chords,

I too still find myself excited when I stumble across a chordal progression I hve not encounted befrore

I love to use augmented and diminished chords.

Cragglerock X8 - Audio Exp...

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

24 Jul 2005, 08:09

for your info :

Cm7 = C - D# - G - A#

C-E-G-B would form a CMaj7

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

24 Jul 2005, 09:09

Your bass note idea is fine, but the standard is just a slash...C/G would be Cmaj over G. Gm4(D#) is really D#6. When possible always name by the root note. I love kind of music theory, often called "Jazz Theory" as compared to Classical theory. Thanks for sharing yours DBoulden. I will try to a list a couple soon. Adam C.

www.songsforthemaster.com

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

24 Jul 2005, 15:55

Thanks for the pointer to correct notation, Adam, I'll use that if I post more. Graigo, yes, the note in brackets is the bass note.

I would have listed the full chords (i.e. D#6 instead of Gm4(D#)) but the "open" sound is dependent upon not doubling the root note with the extra bass note.

Looking forward to trying out other contributions!

)

Dave

http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Dave

:: http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/ :: http://www.myspace.com/daveboulden ::
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Andre1

24 Jul 2005, 17:57

C-7 contains C Eb G Bb not D# and A#. The chord is derived from the c minor scale which contains the flats not sharps.

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

24 Jul 2005, 20:23

Ben, yes, strictly speaking that is correct... if a bit pedantic ;o)

Dave

http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Dave

:: http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/ :: http://www.myspace.com/daveboulden ::
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

24 Jul 2005, 20:49

True, it was a bit pedantic

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

25 Jul 2005, 04:37

I'm truly ashamed of myself, writing Cmaj& instead of Cmin7

Maj = 1, 3, 5, 7

min = 1, b3, 5, b7

Forgive my intolerable error.

Cragglerock X8 - Audio Exp...

Pedantics?

25 Jul 2005, 05:29

Hi Dave,

at first, I love your Chords progressions! And so I played last Day I get some ideas to make little Changings. When I ready, I will notice here.

Hey Guys, YES THERE IS AN STANDARD NOTATION BUT:
so you can write any Chords slashed by Bass Notes, anybody should understand what is meaning, or?
Not every Musician has an Education in Musitheory, I played sometimes in Bands where Nobody knows anything about Scores. But it works too!!!
I cant believe it, NOBODY, till now, say anything about the Music (the Cordprogression) as it is!?! But can tell anything about the right Way to paint scores. I must shake my Head.

Thats why, Dave well done, I understand what you mean and can it play and hear. So I can score my Suggestions, you will read here.

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

25 Jul 2005, 05:52

Mick, thanks for your kind words. I had a feeling you might like those progressions as I noticed you have a similar liking for open and augmented chords in your own music. Looking forward to trying one or two of your favourite chord progressions.

)

Dave

http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Dave

:: http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/ :: http://www.myspace.com/daveboulden ::
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Favourite Chord Progressions

25 Jul 2005, 06:18

Hi Dave,

so I get Time next days I will read out (most Things I cant remember) some of my Favourites. Then I upload to my Homepage for Download as PDF Scores. Hope Scores can you read?! So I write it in your Way, as Symbols with Slash and Numbers, there will come some Mistakes. Read the Discussion above;-))

Mick

BTW: I set my Hammond Samples, raw and NO Loops, for Download on the known Homepage!

Re: Chord progressions and inspiration

25 Jul 2005, 07:25

Mick, sadly I don't read music... I tend to play by ear. Perhaps it would help to additionally supply the chords progressions as simple single channel MIDI files allowing anyone to load it into their favourite sequencer or our Fantoms to inspect the notes. I shall try and get mine set-up as midi files too and put them online. These MIDI files will probably also be small enough to include as attachments to posts... especially if they are "Zipped".

)

Dave

http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

Dave

:: http://www.drstudio.demon.co.uk/ :: http://www.myspace.com/daveboulden ::
"Musicians fall into three categories: those with a physical block, those with a mental block and those with a wooden block". Unfortunately, I'm in the 1st category!

My Favourites

25 Jul 2005, 08:37

Hi Dave and all other,

here is a ZIP File with 3 Chord Progressions I like much.
So your Wish as Midifiles.
The 3. is in two Versions, pure and in 3/4 so I played next Time in an brandnew Song.