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Lesson 1

LESSON 8: Mixing Strong and Fragile Progressions

STRONG AND FRAGILE PROGRESSIONS

In general, chord progressions are strongest when the root of the chord (i.e., the letter name that defines the chord) moves up a 4th (or down a 5th) to get to the next chord. So in A major, going from an A major chord to D major is considered strong. So is going from E major to A major.

Other chord progressions are needed, of course. They won't all be strong progressions - you'll want to mix in some so-called "fragile" progressions. And you want to make sure that verses use, in general, more "fragile" progressions, to go hand in hand with the less conclusive lyric and melody.

A chorus should use more  strong progressions, to help the stronger lyric and melody. A verse should use more fragile progressions, to help describe the more inconclusive nature of the lyric.

DON'T OVERCOMPLICATE YOUR SONG

If you've ever gone on a day-tour of a city, you know that your brain can get overworked very easily by having too many things on the agenda. In a similar way, a listener can feel lost and a bit overwhelmed if there are too many chords in your song. Three or four chords can be just fine.

As the various rooms of a house will all relate to one another, the chords you choose, and in particular how they progress from one to another, will determine the overall "flavour" of your song.

SAMPLE PROGRESSIONS

Here are some chord progressions that are mixtures of strong and fragile progressions. Overall, a strong progression is predominantly one in which the roots of the chords are a 4th or 5 away from each other.

Primarily strong:
1) A D E7 A
2) A F#m C#m D E7 A
3) A Bm A/C# D E C#m F#m B7 E7 A

Primarily fragile:
1) A F A F
2) A C#m E F#m
3) Bm A/C# B/D# E

As you can tell by playing through the progressions, the fragile progression is one in which the home key (in this case, A major) is not strongly outlined, and so it leaves the key feeling a little bit vague. Therefore, using too many fragile progressions can leave your music sounding a bit vague and meandering. So don't dwell on them too much in your songs.

The activities for this lesson will get you thinking about how the chords you choose will work together.

Looking for some chord progressions? Check out the hundreds in "Essential Chord Progressions"!

ACTIVITIES for HELPING TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHORD

1. Write five samples of chord progressions, using at least four chords each, that do not start or end on the tonic (I) chord, and might be classified as primarily fragile:

i) __________________________________

ii) __________________________________

iii) __________________________________

iv) __________________________________

v) __________________________________

2. Write five samples of chord progressions, using at least five chords each, that end on, but do not start on, a I-chord, that might be classified as mainly strong.

i) __________________________________

ii) __________________________________

iii) __________________________________

iv) __________________________________

v) __________________________________

Proceed to Lesson 9 - CONSIDERING FORM

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