8,720
edits
Changes
m
eE-0-------------|-1---0---0------|-1---0---3---1---|-0------3------- bB-1-------------|-3---1---0------|-1---1---3---3---|-1------3------- gG-0-------------|-2---2---0------|-2---2---0---2---|-0------0------- dD-2-------------|-0---2---2------|-3---2---0---0---|-2------0------- aA-3-------------|-----0---2------|-----0---2-------|-3------2------- eE---------------|---------0------|---------3-------|--------3-------
eE-0-------------|-0-------0------|-0-------0------|-0---------- bB-1-------------|-1-------0------|-0-------1------|-1---------- gG-0-------------|-2-------0------|-0-------2------|-0---------- dD-2-------------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2---------- aA-3-------------|-0-------2------|-2-------0------|-3---------- eE---------------|---------0------|-0--------------|------------
eE-0------1------|-0------1-----|-3-------0------|-0---------- bB-1------3------|-0------1-----|-3-------1------|-1---------- gG-0------2------|-0------2-----|-0-------2------|-0---------- dD-2------0------|-2------3-----|-0-------2------|-2---------- aA-3-------------|-2------------|-2-------0------|-3---------- eE---------------|-0------------|-3--------------|------------
→Bad Examples
C Dm Am Em F Am G Dm C G
I ii vi iii IV vi V ii I V
Here's the same example as above, but I've changed the order of a few chords, added the IV into the mix, and added a V as the last chord. Let's analyze what's going on.
C Am Em Em Am C
I vi iii iii vi I
This progression uses only chords with some tonic functionality. And we begin and end on the tonic chord. We avoid any dominant to tonic resolution which could occur between iii and I. Is this progression wrong? No - it doesn't break any rules so to speak. It just doesn't have any strong tension or release. This can be desirable or not given the circumstances.
C Dm Em F G Am C
I ii iii IV V vi I
Here, we are simply ascending the C Major scale, with each note used as the root of the next chord in the sequence: C Dm Em F G Am. ii has a predominant function, so it's no so bad that it leads into iii, but this implies the iii has a dominant function. The next chord is IV, the main pre-dominant chord. iii - IV might work if the iii has a tonic function, but in this case it doesn't; and the transition will sound awkward. IV - V is common and worry-free progression, but the following V - vi hurts the dominant functionality of the V. Even though vi can have tonic functionality, it is much less strong than the V - I, dominant - tonic resolution. Then we have vi - I. The vi likely serves a tonic functionality here, coming off the preceding V. This makes the vi - I progression weak and uneventful, probably the opposite of what is desired leading into the last chord of the piece.