Major Chords

Chord Progressions

When multiple chords are combined and played in a sequence they form a Chord Progression. Progressions form good exercises which help in shifting from one chord to the other. Playing a progression smoothly without any gaps while changing is the biggest challenge for any learner. Many a times Progressions are the starting point in creating a song. You could do these exercises to gain control over all your Major Chords.

Use 4 downstrokes on each Chord. Choose a slow tempo to begin with making sure each chord sounds clean. Click on the audio player to hear each individual Chord progression.

1)   C | F | G | C

2)   G | C | D | G

3)   D | G | A | D

4)   A | D | E | A

5)   E |A | B | E

6)   B | E | F# | B

7)   F# | B | C# | F#

8)   C# |F# | G# | C#

9)   F | Bb | C | F

10)  Bb | Eb | F | Bb

11)  Eb | Ab | Bb | Eb

12) Ab | Db | Eb | Ab

Minor Chords

Minor Chord Progressions

We use the same strumming pattern. 4 downstrokes on each Chord. 

1)   Cm | Fm | Gm| Cm

2)   Gm | Cm | Dm | Gm

3)   Dm | Gm | Am | Dm

4)   Am | Dm | Em | Am

5)   Em |Am | Bm | Em

6)   Bm | Em | F#m | Bm

7)   F#m | Bm | C#m | F#m

8)   C#m |F#m | G#m | C#m

9)   Fm | Bbm | Cm | Fm

10)  Bbm | Ebm | Fm | Bbm

11)  Ebm | Abm | Bbm | Ebm

12) Abm | Dbm | Ebm | Abm

Chord Progressions using Major and Minor Chords

Below are chord Progressions exercises in a couple of keys. Feel free to try out progressions in other keys as well. The more keys you practice the better it is for you!

Key of C

1)    C | Dm | F | G 

2)    C | Em | F | G    

3)    C | Am | F | G    

4)    C | F |Dm | G      

5)    C | F | Em | G

6)    C |F | Am | G

7)    C | G | Dm | F

8)    C |G |Em | F

9)    C |G | Am | F

10)  C |Am | Dm | G

Key of G

1) G | Am | C | D

2) G | Bm | C | D

3) G | Em | C | D

4) G | C | Am | D

5) G | C | Bm | D

6) G | C | Em | D

7) G | D | Am | C

8) G | D | Bm | C

9) G | D | Em | C

10) G | Em | Am | D

Finding Chords in a particular Key

Its important to know that each key houses 3 major, 3 minor chords & 1 diminished chord. We'll get to the diminished chords later. Also remember that every thing in Music has a formula to it. Eg - A Major scale has a certain formula, a Major chord has a formula, a Minor chord has a formula and so on.
So, Chords that are found in a certain Key is the direct result of the the notes that are derived by applying the formula!
For eg - The formula of a Major Chord is 1-3-5. In the Key of C, if you play the 1st (C), 3rd (E) and 5th (G) note together you get a C Major Chord. 

For more on Chord Formulas click here.

You can choose to memorize the following - 

1) Chord formed on the 1st degree is a MAJOR  -  IM
2) Chord formed on the 2nd degee is a MINOR -  IIm
3) Chord formed on the 3rd degee is a MINOR - IIIm
4) Chord formed on the 4th degee is a MAJOR - IVM
5) Chord formed on the 5th degee is a MAJOR - VM
6) Chord formed on the 6th degee is a MINOR - VIm
7) Chord formed on the 7th degee is a DIMINISHED - VIIdim

Please note that it is absolutely essential that you know the notes in each Key or Scale.

Lets apply the formula in a few keys to see what chords we get - 

Chords in the Key of C - C - Dm - Em - F - G - Am - B dim

Chords in the Key of G - G - Am - Bm - C - D - Em - F#dim

Chords in the Key of F - F - Gm - Am - Bb - C - Dm - Edim

Work this idea with other keys and try and figure out Chords in all of the twelve keys!