Chord Progressions

Generally I dont follow specific accepted chord progressions as I`m 99% composing an instrumental piece. Had a the fortune recently to work with a few fine vocalists and I`m finding writing for vocalists demans more structure. Would anyone like to offer up one or two interesting chord progressions.

Thanks in advance

Ant

[TonyMiller]

For a jazzy/blues feel which will also bring out some good vocal melodies, try:

E - C#7 - F#7 - Am - B7
//--//----//-----/----/
(repeat as reqd)

middle 8:

A-----D7----E----C#7--F#m---C7---B7----E----E7
////--////-- ////--////--////----//----//----////--////

where '/' is a beat

[TonyMiller]

Or for a latin/smooth sound try:

Am - Dm - G - Cmaj7 - F - Bbmaj7 - E - Am

then try going to a major on the last Am into a middle 8

Have fun

[LIQUID]

Thanks Tony I`ll give a whirl - many thanks

Ant

[TonyMiller]

If you make a #1 with them, remember your old Uncle Tony

[LIQUID]

I'll throw something together and it to send you see what you think

[MoonTurnedBlue]

I think it pays to study the chord progressions of great songwriters. I always think one of Lennon and MacCartneys talent, came from understanding how to vary their chord progressions around the root chord. ie If the song is in G - then G is obviously the axis around which all other chords orbit. Sometimes of course they changed keys or modes during a song, but their understanding of form and keys was second to none.

Its a nice trick sometimes to borrow chords from another key - so say you are in F - and you :come up with;

F Gm7 C Bb
////\////\////\////

Then a nice variation is to vary the F chord with either a minor version - or a dominant; like;

F7 Bb C7 F

So you are borrowing F7 from Bb major.

Or you can borrow a chord from a completely different key - say D from the key of G or Gminor

F D Gm C.

Hope that helps a bit!! Just be aware in your songs, that it never hurts to be consistent - but a little variation is good.

[LIQUID]

This is all great stuff. I reckon in the few months I've been on this site I've learnt more than all the years I've been playing around reading books etc