Chord progressions – what do they mean and how do they work?
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Look at a piano.
The keys are grouped into 2 black keys, 3 black keys with white keys in between for a total of eight white keys (natural notes) and 5 black keys (accidental notes) before the series repeats.
Pick a series. on the 2 black keys, play the white key immediately to the left of the left key.
That is C. It is note 1.
The next white key is D. It is note 2.
The next white key is E. It is note 3.
The next white key is F. It is note 4.
The next white key is G. It is note 5.
The next white key is A. It is note 6.
The next white key is B. It is note 7.
The next white key is C. You’re back where you started – and you’ll notice the notes are the same – they just sound higher.
Now, pick any three keys and play them together.
When you get to experiment with it, you’ll notice some sound better and some sound worse.
Maybe you play 1-3-5, then 1-4-6, then 1-5-7, 1-3-6. Congratulations! You just played a chord progression. Chord progressions help the music flow – and if you change them in the right way it can make the music flow really well and sound interesting. It can also support somebody playing an instrument to or singing a melody.
What’s cool about music is getting to explore the different chord progressions. Add a fourth note or a fifth note to your chords. Start at a different place on the keyboard, which changes the key of your piece. Add in black keys, which add in between notes called flats or sharps.
Any instrument that can play multiple notes at a time can play chords. Guitar, piano, and to a limited degree, certain percussion and string instruments.
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