The Standard Harmony Rule - The "Answers"

So I realize there aren't really "answers" on this one because there really aren't specific questions. But I hope that you've tried figuring out what the chords would be given the numbers... and that you're ear is starting to maybe tune in a little to what some chord progressions sound like.

Unlike the last few videos, you actually get to see me in this one (aren't you lucky?!) as I'll walk you through finding some of these chord progressions and changing the keys on your guitar.

So grab your guitar for this one, and again if you don't have a page full of major scales handy, you can download mine:

 

This process might take a little time but it is so completely worth it! If you can start thinking about songs you know and chord progressions you play in terms of their number and their function you'll be off to a whole new level of understanding before you know it.

As I mentioned before, these last few lessons have come from my Guitar Theory Made Useful course. If you've enjoyed these last few videos and you are interested in going further, I encourage you to check out the DVD version of the course as I know you won't be disappointed.

I do have another video coming for you in a couple of days, and this one will be especially interesting to those of you who care to write your own songs.

Downloads For This Lesson

You may need to right-click the following links and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer

The Video (WMV)
The Video (MP4)
The Exercises (in case you missed them)

Leave A Reply (9 comments So Far)


  1. Patrick

    Griff talks about Chord Progression from Major Scale here

    http://bluesguitarunleashed.com/how-to-write-a-song-in-5-minutes-or-less/#


  2. Mark

    Don't know if this will help anyone, but if you look at a piano and start on C all the white keys are part of the Cmaj scale. So if you play the first position chord (i.e 1, 3, 5 notes in the scale you get the Cmaj chord) Now keeping the same hand postion and move it up you'll see the next chord is a Dmin, the next is a Emin, next Fmaj, next Gmaj, Amin, Bdim all while never playing a black key or changing hand position. The white keys naturally follow the WS WS HS WS WS WS HS rule. One of the comments stated no minors in Cmaj? there are no minors persay when you are referring to a scale note but the CHORDS created using the scale are where the minors come in.
    Hope this doesn't confuse anyone. my guitar playing improved greatly once I took up the piano and realized the what WS, HS and harmony rule was talking about. It was a long term blonde moment before I realized that it was just setting there waiting for me to grab hold!!!!!!!!!!
    Mark


  3. Patrick

    Doug and Dennis -> In the chord progression scale, you minor the 2nd 3rd and 6th of the Major scale. Watch

    I'm having a problem getting the last progression. I understand it goes from 1 to 6 but I get lost in the progressions last part. So what does it look like? I think it goes 11234455661233456123455.


  4. Doug

    I have the same question as Dennis. You indicate in your video you are using 3 minor chords in the Cmajor (D.E,F) for your example of cord progression 1-2-3-4-5-6 but there are no minor cords in C major.


  5. Dennis

    Griff,
    I'm looking at your major scale list. When following the video, how do I know which chords are minor, in the progressions? I must have missed something.


  6. A Martinez

    Very well laid out and easy to follow. Thank you always.


  7. Michael

    This is really great stuff for a old guy who is just now starting to try to learn guitar.
    Keep up the great work. I do have your blues unleashed class set too.


  8. Mike

    Dang...you are turning us into musicians .... I love it.


  9. Mike

    great great great, thanks Griff.