Chord question

Forums Guitars, Gear, Software & Education Chord question

  • Post
    zaimk
    Member

    Lets say for example I am playing chords to an A major scale, and I am playing a b chord in the progression how do I know to play it as a major chord or a minor chord?

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Replies
    pekki
    Member

    well, you should try to read some stuff about harmonization of major/minor scales…it’s pretty straight-forward stuff and you shouldn’t have any problems understanding that…

    I’ll give you the final result:

    chords, in a major progression go in this order

    major – minor – minor – major – major – minor – diminshed

    it’s often written like this:

    I – ii – iii – IV – V – vi – VII°

    then, in a minor progression the chords go like this:

    minor – diminished – major – minor – minor – major – major

    so, that answers your question…if we are in A major, the 2nd chord is B, and it’s B minor

    billmeedog
    Member

    @pekki 5189 wrote:

    well, you should try to read some stuff about harmonization of major/minor scales…it’s pretty straight-forward stuff and you shouldn’t have any problems understanding that…

    I’ll give you the final result:

    chords, in a major progression go in this order

    major – minor – minor – major – major – minor – diminshed

    it’s often written like this:

    I – ii – iii – IV – V – vi – VII°

    then, in a minor progression the chords go like this:

    minor – diminished – major – minor – minor – major – major

    so, that answers your question…if we are in A major, the 2nd chord is B, and it’s B minor

    Pekki,

    Great description of the major key chord scale! This is obviously an important part of the puzzle when it comes to understanding western harmony/theory. I might add that your information is “spot-on perfect” assuming that zaimk meant “A” Ionian Major Scale (which is the default major mode when people use the general term “major scale.”) If for some strange reason zaimk was referring to an “A” Lydian Mode Major Scale, instead of the default “A” Ionian Mode Major Scale, then the “B” chord in question would in fact be “B” Major. (BTW, the only other modal possibility would be “A” Mixolydian Major Scale, but that would yield the same iim chord (“B” minor) as your description of the “A” Ionian Major Scale.)

    Anyways, given the information furnished by zaimk, I think you correctly assumed that the “A” Major Scale in question is definitely the default Ionian Mode version. Thus ALL of your info and fine description are perfect!

    Well done Pekki!

    Also, best-of-luck to you zaimk, and I’m sure if you continue to quench your thirst for knowledge here at Infinite Guitar, you WON’T be disappointed. I’ve found the staff/instructors here to be ACCESSIBLE, TALENTED, PATIENT, and VERY SUPPORTIVE. Rock on!

    ~Bill Meehan~

    zaimk
    Member

    Thanks for the awesome reply guys, I found some other information on it now too so im not so confused anymore.

    MSzymanek
    Member

    I often feel like following a stricte progression sounds cliche and boring… Am I the only one who thinks this way?

    billmeedog
    Member

    @Sealer 5195 wrote:

    I often feel like following a stricte progression sounds cliche and boring… Am I the only one who thinks this way?

    Sealer,

    I ABSOLUTELY agree! When I teach, I try to explain to my students that the diatonic scale/chord theory stuff (and the associated modes) are great to understand in terms of analysis and “labeling” as I like to call it. However, I’ve NEVER advocated using those sounds & formulas as the BASIS for an original idea! In fact, some of my FAVORITE stuff breaks/violates every theory-rule “in-the-book!” So I hear ya! That being said, I think that the theory and diatonic understanding can & should help with improvisation, arranging, etc. Just NOT as the GENESIS of an original idea. This is just my opinion. I should add that if there’s anyone out there who has a deep love of “pure-pop music,” then I think the “cliche” formulaic-diatonic sounding stuff could be right up your alley, so-to-speak, and probably COULD be a source of many great “simple-pop” ideas! Conversely, I tend to like stuff with a bit more of a twist, but “to each their own,” right?!?

    PEACE!

    ~Bill Meehan

    MSzymanek
    Member

    @billmeedog 5213 wrote:

    I should add that if there’s anyone out there who has a deep love of “pure-pop music,” then I think the “cliche” formulaic-diatonic sounding stuff could be right up your alley, so-to-speak, and probably COULD be a source of many great “simple-pop” ideas! Conversely, I tend to like stuff with a bit more of a twist, but “to each their own,” right?!?

    This reminds me of a time for 2 years ago, when I was playing in a class (music/theater class which basically meant that we made music for theater plays that the other class members made) and I recall the teacher using chord progressions to make songs. I never heard something so uninspiring since then. Seriously I think that was the least interesting songs ever to be made. Thank God I´m not in that class anymore.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.