Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-5-harmonic-progressions [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [Music](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel.md) › Harmonic Progressions # Harmonic Progressions Music: Edexcel GCSE, topic 1.1.5 ## 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 ![12 Bar Blues](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/8458380b-9447-4b23-8a89-aa6ad570b8b7/jazz-blues-sing-black-man-music-.jpg) - 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 ![Primary chords](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/52731e6c-7de2-4731-a3bf-28f9bd20783c/piano-practice-playing.jpg) - 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. ![](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2024-03/e69a03db-e5f7-43fc-b100-4cdac6f7fe1e/12-bar-blues-progression.jpg) - The 12 Bar Blues progression is usually as pictured (where each box is one bar of music). ## Circle of Fifths 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. ### A circle of fifths ![A circle of fifths](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/dedb6470-dbd2-45c6-8ae5-19a96e833108/queen-.jpg) - 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 ![Identifying](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/5f81f237-4cbe-4c96-89e1-f7de8bda1260/man-listening-ear.jpg) - 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 ![Example](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2024-03/06069e4b-d55c-4493-a11f-e231684d8cac/Screenshot%202024-03-07%20203151.png) - So - if we started on a C Major chord, a circle of fifths may be as pictured: ### Practice ![Practice](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/0112fe6e-f4b3-4225-b0d4-8b834567a50f/guitar-acoustic-classical-music-instrument-.jpg) - 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 ![Example](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2024-03/a396276f-373a-4b22-bd25-bfb6b6febba8/desktop_0771ca35-11ed-4a53-96f0-70477e06580f.png) - The example in Killer Queen can be found at bars 20 - 21. - The chord progression here is as pictured: ## Test yourself on Harmonic Progressions - 12 Bar Blues is based on which chords of any given key? - Which is NOT a chord 12 Bar Blues is based on (of any given key)? - Which of these is NOT a 12 Bar Blues Chord in C major? - Which set work has a good example of a circle of fifths? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8a9f121c-bdb0-42db-bbd6-a88f8f723518/section/c77977ff-c771-4377-8142-75c816dd9f85/session) - Previous topic: [1.1.4 Harmonic Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-4-harmonic-devices.md) - Next topic: [1.2.1 Major & Minor Tonality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-2-1-major-and-minor-tonality.md) ## Music: Edexcel GCSE contents ### 1 Musical Elements - 1.1 Organisation of Pitch - [1.1.1 Melodic Pitch](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-1-melodic-pitch.md) - [1.1.2 Melodic Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-2-melodic-devices.md) - [1.1.3 Harmonic Pitch](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-3-harmonic-pitch.md) - [1.1.4 Harmonic Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-4-harmonic-devices.md) - [1.1.5 Harmonic Progressions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-5-harmonic-progressions.md) - 1.2 Tonality - [1.2.1 Major & Minor Tonality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-2-1-major-and-minor-tonality.md) - [1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Musical Elements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-2-2-end-of-topic-test-musical-elements.md) ### 2 Instrumental Music 1700–1820 - 2.1 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major - [2.1.1 Concerto No. 5 in D Major](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-1-concerto-no-5-in-d-major.md) - [2.1.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-2-structure-and-melody.md) - [2.1.3 Instrumentation & Texture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-3-instrumentation-and-texture.md) - [2.1.4 Harmony](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-4-harmony.md) - [2.1.5 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-5-wider-listening.md) - 2.2 Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’ - [2.2.1 Piano Sonata No. 8](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-1-piano-sonata-no-8.md) - [2.2.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-2-structure-and-melody.md) - [2.2.3 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-3-other-features.md) - [2.2.4 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-4-wider-listening.md) - [2.2.5 End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-5-end-of-topic-test-instrumental-music-1700-1820.md) ### 3 Vocal Music - 3.1 Purcell: Music for a While - [3.1.1 Music for a While](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-1-1-music-for-a-while.md) - [3.1.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-1-2-other-features.md) - [3.1.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-1-3-wider-listening.md) - 3.2 Queen: Killer Queen - [3.2.1 Killer Queen](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-1-killer-queen.md) - [3.2.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-2-other-features.md) - [3.2.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-3-wider-listening.md) - [3.2.4 End of Topic Test - Vocal Music](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-4-end-of-topic-test-vocal-music.md) ### 4 Music for Stage & Screen - 4.1 Schwartz: Defying Gravity - [4.1.1 Defying Gravity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-1-defying-gravity.md) - [4.1.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-2-other-features.md) - [4.1.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-3-wider-listening.md) - [4.1.4 End of Topic Test - Defying Gravity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-4-end-of-topic-test-defying-gravity.md) - 4.2 Williams: Star Wars Episode IV - [4.2.1 A New Hope](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-1-a-new-hope.md) - [4.2.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-2-structure-and-melody.md) - [4.2.3 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-3-other-features.md) - [4.2.4 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-4-wider-listening.md) - [4.2.5 End of Topic Test - Star Wars Episode IV](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-5-end-of-topic-test-star-wars-episode-iv.md) ### 5 Fusions - 5.1 Afro Celt Sound System: Release - [5.1.1 Release](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-1-release.md) - [5.1.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-2-other-features.md) - [5.1.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-3-wider-listening.md) - 5.2 Spalding: Samba Em Preludio - [5.2.1 Samba Em Preludio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-1-samba-em-preludio.md) - [5.2.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-2-structure-and-melody.md) - [5.2.3 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-3-other-features.md) - [5.2.4 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-4-wider-listening.md) - [5.2.5 End of Topic Test - Fusions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-5-end-of-topic-test-fusions.md)