Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
Instrumentality

A mad musical adventure

Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
  • Comment

Going round in circles – exploring harmonic sequences

  • June 8, 2023
  • admin
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

A harmonic sequence is a chord progression which repeats a pattern in ascending or descending steps. The most common example is one in which each successive chord is a fifth below or a fourth above its predecessor. Here is an example in A minor:

Am Dm G C F Bdim E Am

So that’s A up four to D up four to G up four to C up four to F up four to B up four to E up four to A, at which point it has gone full circle. The reason why, in this example, some of the chords are major, some are minor and one is diminished is because only notes from the A minor scale have been employed. The sequence does not have to go full circle and usually it does not.

Harmonic sequences had their hay day in the Baroque period, although there are plenty of more recent examples, as you’ll see below.

But first, here’s a short piece for guitar which demonstrates the sequence shown above. Have a listen:

And, in case you want to play this yourself, here is the score:

Threes-a-CircleDownload

So, how are harmonic sequences used in contemporary music? Here are some examples I’ve managed to track down:

Autumn Leaves (Eric Clapton version) – Em A Dmaj7 Gmaj7 C#m7 F#7 Bm B7

I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) – Am Dm G Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Bm7b5 Esus4 E

Hotel California (Eagles) – Am E7 G D F C … Dm E7 (a different type of sequence in which pairs of chords, the second in each pair a fourth below the first, descend by intervals of a tone)

If you’ve not tried these progressions before then take a look because you’ll find them a useful stimulus for new ideas.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
admin

Previous Article
  • Comment

Fifty years on: re-imagining The Queen Of Love

  • April 17, 2023
  • admin
View Post
Next Article
  • Comment

A simple thought, an epigram – music in miniature

  • July 24, 2023
  • admin
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Comment

Is Rubato dead?

  • admin
  • September 1, 2023
View Post
  • Comment

A simple thought, an epigram – music in miniature

  • admin
  • July 24, 2023
View Post
  • Comment

Fifty years on: re-imagining The Queen Of Love

  • admin
  • April 17, 2023
View Post
  • Comment
  • Melody

Can cellos play the blues?

  • admin
  • April 11, 2023
View Post
  • Comment
  • Reviews

Composing with a notation app on an iPad without access to an instrument

  • admin
  • September 13, 2022
View Post
  • Comment

In praise of the humble harmonica

  • admin
  • January 12, 2022
Guitar player
View Post
  • Comment

Music is not a sport

  • admin
  • January 6, 2022
View Post
  • Comment

Why might a guitarist use a virtual guitar?

  • admin
  • June 13, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instrumentality
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
A mad musical adventure

Input your search keywords and press Enter.