Harmonic Progressions

12 Bar Blues

A harmonic/chord progression is basically a succession of two or more chords which help to ‘structure’ a piece of music. The possibilities are endless, but there are a few special ones that you need to be able to identify.

12 Bar Blues

This famous progression is the basis of most pop, jazz and (of course!) blues music.
It is based on chords I, IV and V of any given key.
So in C Major your possible chords are:
- I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII
- C - Dm - Em - F - G - Am - Bdim

Primary chords

The 12 Bar Blues Chords would therefore be C, F and G as highlighted.
These also happen to be the only MAJOR chords in C Major - what we call the primary chords.

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The 12 Bar Blues progression is usually as pictured (where each box is one bar of music).

Circle of Fifths

A circle of fifths

A circle of fifths is a chord progression that has been used for hundreds of years.
You will find them in Baroque music but also in pop and jazz - including an example in the set work Killer Queen by Queen.

Identifying

The best way to spot a circle of fifths is by listening to the bass note (which is almost always the root [first note] of a chord).
It will go DOWN a perfect 5th then UP a perfect 4th, then DOWN a perfect 5th and UP a perfect 4th and so on.
This can happen just twice or multiple times - it is still a circle of fifths!

Example

So - if we started on a C Major chord, a circle of fifths may be as pictured:

Practice

It all looks a little strange as the chords are not linked by a common key, but the best way to understand this progression is to practice playing the sequence on a piano or guitar, starting on different chords.
Once you have heard a circle of fifths a few times you will soon find them easy to spot.

Example

The example in Killer Queen can be found at bars 20 - 21.
The chord progression here is as pictured:

1Musical Elements

1.1Organisation of Pitch

1.1.1Melodic Pitch

1.1.2Melodic Devices

1.1.3Harmonic Pitch

1.1.4Harmonic Devices

1.1.5Harmonic Progressions

1.2Tonality

1.2.1Major & Minor Tonality

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Musical Elements

2Instrumental Music 1700–1820

2.1Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.1Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.2Structure & Melody

2.1.3Instrumentation & Texture

2.1.4Harmony

2.1.5Wider Listening

2.2Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’

2.2.1Piano Sonata No. 8

2.2.2Structure & Melody

2.2.3Other Features

2.2.4Wider Listening

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820

3Vocal Music

3.1Purcell: Music for a While

3.1.1Music for a While

3.1.2Other Features

3.1.3Wider Listening

3.2Queen: Killer Queen

3.2.1Killer Queen

3.2.2Other Features

3.2.3Wider Listening

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Vocal Music

4Music for Stage & Screen

4.1Schwartz: Defying Gravity

4.1.1Defying Gravity

4.1.2Other Features

4.1.3Wider Listening

4.2Williams: Star Wars Episode IV

4.2.1A New Hope

4.2.2Structure & Melody

4.2.3Other Features

4.2.4Wider Listening

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Music for Stage & Screen

5Fusions

5.1Afro Celt Sound System: Release

5.1.1Release

5.1.2Other Features

5.1.3Wider Listening

5.2Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

5.2.1Samba Em Preludio

5.2.2Structure & Melody

5.2.3Other Features

5.2.4Wider Listening

5.2.5End of Topic Test - Fusions

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