Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function

1. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function

2. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function There are four basic chord qualities: Major Minor Diminished Augmented

3. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Basic chord qualities: Abbreviation Example Major nothing A Minor m Am Diminished dim. or º A dim. or Aº Augmented aug. or + A aug. or A+

4. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Chord functions are designated with Roman numerals I II III etc.

5. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Chord functions are designated with Roman numerals I II III etc. There are seven chords per key One for each different note in the scale

6. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function III IIIIVVVIVII All major keys follow the same pattern: Major minor minor Major Major minor dim.

7. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Chord functions are designated with Roman numerals So, in the key of C: III IIIIVVVIVII CDmEmF GAmB dim. Major minor minor Major Major minor dim.

8. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function In other words, in any major key: • I IV and V are always major chords • II III and VI are always minor chords • VII is always a diminished chord

9. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Let’s see how this works in some other keys. How about the key of G. The notes in the G scale are: G A B C D E F#

10. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Now, add the chord functions (the Roman Numerals): G A B C D E F# IIIIII IV VVIVII

11. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Now, add the chord qualities: G Am B m C D Em F# dim. IIIIII IV VVIVII

12. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Now, let’s analyze a song. “Blowin’ In the Wind” is in the key of D and uses the following chords: D G A A7 Bm

13. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function The chord functions (Roman numerals) for these chords would be: IIVV V7VI D G A A7 Bm

14. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function The chord progression Bob Dylan wrote for the verses in the song is: D G D D D G A A7

15. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function This translates to: I IV I I D G D D I IV V V7 D G A A7

16. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function The chord progression for the chorus is: G A D Bm G A D D

17. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Which translates to: IV V I VI G A D Bm IV V I I G A D D

18. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Virtually all songs can be analyzed using this method. A chord “progression,” the formula of the song in Roman numerals, is the true essence of a song, not the chords themselves.

19. Most songs use I, IV, and V as their basis. “The Time of Our Lives” by Green Day is a prime example: Key of G: G5 Cadd9 Dsus Em D C D Em G C D I IVadd9 Vsus VI V IV V VI I IV I

20. Other songs are more complicated. Look at “Hotel California:” Key of D: Bm F#7 A E G D Em F#7 G D Em F#7 VI V7/VI V V/V IV I II V7/VI IV I VI V7/VI

21. Chords In a Key - The Way Chords Function Thinking in Chord Progressions is Fun! Try It With All Your Favorite Songs!!