I feel like I'm stuck in I - IV - V with a m6 here and there for good measure.  Unless I start out in a minor key, but that's still pretty predictable too.  I've considered analyzing classical pieces, etc., for their chord structure.  Any other ideas?  I love it when music is out of the box, but I don't know how to get out of it.  

Do you use chord substitutions a lot? Those are great for quick and easy changes to chord patterns and reharmonization. I wouldn't look to classical music for chord changes unless you want to really get in depth. I would rather suggest looking at folk music. Even the Beatles got many of their chord changes early in their career from old folk songs.

You know, that's a great idea.  I have a book of old hymns that someone rearranged with cool chord substitutions.  I've been meaning to study that.   Thanks!  

I usually only use chord subs by accident.  :( 

Are you aware of the Circle of Fifths chart? That can be useful in showing some chordal options which should work in a particular key. Maybe think about starting a chord progression not on the I note to throw things off a bit. Then maybe resolve to I or something like that. Or not even resolve till a chorus! Or never resolve! Experimentation!

It's not so hard when you don't know the rules. 

I jest, but there is some truth to that.  I honestly don't even think about what progression I am in half the time.  I am writing one tonight that is G am F G.... I guess that would be I ii VII  VIII (?)  I am not actually sure.  It sounds good for this song though.  I think as Matt has said, experimentation.  Or, what works for me sometimes is to hit the wrong chord and someone says... hey, that sounds kind of neat.

mattplaysguitar


Are you aware of the Circle of Fifths chart? That can be useful in showing some chordal options which should work in a particular key. Maybe think about starting a chord progression not on the I note to throw things off a bit. Then maybe resolve to I or something like that. Or not even resolve till a chorus! Or never resolve! Experimentation!

How does that work? I've never seen the circle of fifths, or fourths, used to show anything about chords.

Chappel

mattplaysguitar


Are you aware of the Circle of Fifths chart? That can be useful in showing some chordal options which should work in a particular key. Maybe think about starting a chord progression not on the I note to throw things off a bit. Then maybe resolve to I or something like that. Or not even resolve till a chorus! Or never resolve! Experimentation!

How does that work? I've never seen the circle of fifths, or fourths, used to show anything about chords.

Yeah most don't really show it. I think Chord Wheel tends to be more what it is, rather than plain circle of fifths (my music theory is VERY limited by the way). This is what I was looking for.


http://az58332.vo.msecnd.net/e88dd2e9fff747f090c792316c22131c/Images/Products39884-1200x1200-459315.jpg

You can use most circle of fifths wheels to extract this info. It's really only showing you the I ii iii IV V vi vii stuff but makes it quick and easy to transpose etc and know what is major and minor. It works for me at least, being highly theory limited! :) I know this is pretty basic stuff so it may not be that useful to you more knowledgeable folks, but might provide a new way of looking at things?!

Auhumm.... The best music ever written was written in I IV V? You can get in to other stuff? Typically jazz does this. 

And there are other simple variations w/minors? 

Classical music will move through a bunch of changes, and Jazz. But my music typically has 3 or 4 chords, and "it's good..." 

If it works, if it ain't broke? Don't fix it...

What are your favorite songs? How many chords do they have?

I'm getting ready to start a new one, a classic rock cover? Yeaup, you guessed it? I IV V... Or some variation there of. I wrote and recorded a song? It's called "It is what it is..." It's a good song, and truer words were never spoken..."

Hey Janet,

I know how it feels getting "stuck in a rut". Try this...

Basic chord substitutions - for simplicity's sake I'll give examples in C.

There's a simple formula which goes like this:

1, 3, 6
2, 4
5, 7

Those are scale degrees. So if you have a C major chord, you can substitute it with an Em or Am and vice-versa. In essence, C, Em and Am are interchangeable. This depends on your melody of course and you would need to play it by ear, as it were.

Same for 2, 4 - Dm and F; and 5, 7 - G and Bdim (or half-diminished).
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****ing things up... EDIT - that's interesting, after I posted, this word got censored. It was only the word "S-p-icing" :)

Precede your chords with their Dominant 7ths.

The full formula is: 4, 7, 3, 6, 2, 5, 1. It's a sort of Cycle of Fifths. Here's how it works.

For starters these are not scale degrees based on the Home key (C) but based on the chord you want to go to. That chord becomes the '1'.

The simplest example would be if from C you want to move to F. So you play, C to C7 and then go to F. (C is dominant of F = 5, 1)

Or from C to E - you would play C, Bdim and then E (think Yesterday, Beatles). (B is dom to E = 5, 1)

C to Am - C, E7 then Am. (E is dom to A = 5, 1)

To go further (backward in the formula) then you could play:

Keeping same eg of C to F: -
Gm, C7, F = G is 2nd degree of F, C is 5th, F is 1 = 2, 5, 1.

Even further back i.e. 6, 2, 5, 1 (same eg)
Dm, Gm, C7, F = D is 6th degree, G is 2nd, C is 5th, F is 1 = 6, 2, 5, 1.

Get the idea? :)

There there are the infamous Tritone substitutions - the jazzy stuff.

If you want to go from C to F you play: -

C, F#7 (or F#13th if you want to be more colorful) and then F.

This works best with what are called Functioning Dominants.

Func Dom are 5-1s as explained above. I.e. C7 to F or E7 to A, or Ab7 to Db, etc...

Non-Functioning Dom. are all those dominant 7th chords that DO NOT resolve to their 1. For e.g. E7 to F (like the chorus in Imagine). Or B7 to G... etc... So Non Func Dom are those "5s" that do not go to 1.

So back to Tritone Subs...

They are called Tritone because they are 3 whole-steps away. So Tritone (TT) of C would be F# because:

C, D, E, F# - there is a whole step in between each note.

Also notice that you only need to memorise 6 TTs because if C is TT to F#, then F# is TT to C.

So another example if you're playing in C:

You're on the G chord and about to go to the home key (C) - so from G, you go to Db7 and then C.

G is TT to Db - G, A, B, Db.

An easy way to remember TT is to think of them as #4 or b5:

TT of C = 4th of C which is F + 1 (#4) = F#.
or
TT of C = 5th of C which is G - 1 (b5) = Gb or F# (same thing)

TT of G = 4th of G which C + 1 (#4) = C# (Db)
or
TT of G = 5th of G which is D - 1 (b5) = Db (C#)

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I know this might be a lot to digest but I can assure you it will open a new world of possibilities for you :)

If you need any clarifications just ask. I'd be happy to help :)

Sam

Hmm, that's gonna take a few re-reads to get my head around :|