22. FINDING THE CHORD PROGRESSION FOR A SONG

22. FINDING THE CHORD PROGRESSION FOR A SONG

Any song will follow a specific pattern or progression of the notes which would be much helpful to identify the chords that could be followed in the song. The Steps below can be helpful to guide in getting the progression of the song.

1.     Use a major or minor scale in whatever key that is preferred to find potential chords for the progression. For example, the C-Major scale contains the following notes in the order: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. this can be used to create a chord progression in the key of C.

2.      Use Roman numerals to number the chords in your major or minor scale, allowing you to make easy progressions. A pattern in any key can be represented “generically.” For example -- a common chord progression is I-IV-V. This just means that no matter your key, you hit the 1st note/chord in the major or minor scale, then the 4th, then the 5th. For example: In C-major I is C, IV is F, and V is G.

3.      Start your song with the root, or chord that matches the first few keys. I chord is called the root or tonic chord. It forms the base to which the other chords in a progression relate. Basic chord progressions always start with this "tonic."

4.      Use common chord progressions to get used to the flow of songs. The first, the fourth, and the fifth (I – IV – V) chords sound good together in a progression for most genres of music. But it should not be blindly followed and the progression changes for different songs.

5.      Change the type of chord (minor, blues, minor seventh chords, etc.) to change the feel of the song. Sadder songs often use minor chords. The type of chord could be adjusted while still following the root note’s chord with changes to make a great song in any genre, while still keeping the progression simple.

As more and more songs are learnt, pay attention to the patterns that are reoccurring. They will occur again in another song. All songs follow recognizable patterns.

An Illustration of Chord progression for a song with notes:

Observation and Findings:

  No of Lines-3

·         No of Measures- 12

·         Key Signature- No Flat/ Sharp

·         Time Signature- Common (4/4)

·         Last Note- C

·         Tempo- Not given (can be taken as 60 or 80 or 100 or 120 BPM)

·         Possible Scale- C Major (Knowing the Key Signature and Last Note)

Derivations:

Chords that could be played in C Major Scale (for the song above):

Major Chords (1—4—5):        C- C E G ;          F- F A C            ;           G- G B D

Minor Chords (2—3—6):        Dm- D F A ;      Em- E G B ;       Am- A C E

Note: Other Category of Chords shall be used to further beautify

Finding the Chord Progression (Lines or Measures or so):

The notes in lines or measures or half measures shall be considered. The notes that are dominantly present in a line or measure, as that of the chords that we had mentioned above, that particular chord or chords shall be used. 

For instance, in the First Line, 1^st Measure, we have l C C G G l, and in this measure C Major Chord shall be used, without any second thought.

Likewise, in the First Line, 2^nd Measure, we have l A A G , l, and in this measure we shall play any of the Major or Minor Chord, but best chose F Major Chord as it is the next Major Chord in the series. Also, the measure shall be split to two and F Major Chord shall be played for first two notes ‘A A’and G Major Chord shall be played for second two notes ‘G ,’.

The progression of chords shall be chosen and fixed for the other measures in the same way.

Note: The progression of chord need not be the same for a particular set of notes. It depends based on the experience, interests and use of different chords in appropriate position.

Notating the Chord Progression of a song:

The Chord progression can be notated by Roman Numerals or by the name of the chords itself, in a line above the lines of Music Score.

Here we shall notate by the name of the chords as given below.