STRONG and FRAGILE PROGRESSIONS (all given in C-major):

Simple progressions can e ca!egori"ed a# ei!$er eing #!rong or %ragile&

A strong 'rogre##ion i# one !$a! clearl( 'oin!# !o one no!e a# !$e )e(* or !onic*
no!e& T$e( can e +#ed an(,$ere* and are grea! e#'eciall( %or c$or+# melodie#*
,$ic$ +#+all( rel( on !$e #!rong indica!ion o% a )e(&
Strong Progressions (To #ee !$e#e 'rogre##ion# in
%re!oard-m+#ical #!a%% no!a!ion* clic) $ere&)
C .m G C
C .m/ G C
C Fmaj/ G/ C
C Am .m G C
C Em Am .m G/ C
A fragile 'rogre##ion i# one in ,$ic$ a #'eci%ic c$ord i# no! clearl( indica!ed a#
eing !$e onl( 'o##ile !onic c$ord& S+c$ a 'rogre##ion* on i!# o,n* co+ld 'oin!
!o,ard !,o or more c$ord# a# eing 'o##ile !onic#* and +#+all( re0+ire a #!rong
'rogre##ion a%!er i! !o ma)e !$e clear de!ermina!ion&
Fragile 'rogre##ion# can e +#ed an(,$ere* +! ,or) ver( ,ell in ver#e melodie#&
1ee' in mind !$a! mo#! m+l!i-c$ord 'rogre##ion# are a mi2!+re o% #!rong and %ragile
elemen!#&

Fragile Progressions (To #ee !$e#e 'rogre##ion# in
%re!oard-m+#ical #!a%% no!a!ion* clic) $ere&)
.m/ Em/
Am G F G Am
Em G Am Em .m F Am
C Gm/ Am/ 34aj/

PROGRESSIONS THAT END ON A DIFFERENT CHORD (.ECEPTI5E CA.ENCE):
Deceptive Cadences (To #ee !$e#e 'rogre##ion# in
%re!oard-m+#ical #!a%% no!a!ion* clic) $ere&)
C F Am G F
C .m G Am
C Am Em G A


PROGRESSIONS T6AT 7SE .I4INIS6E. C6OR.S:
!"at#s a diminis"ed c"ord$%

Diminis"ed C"ords (To #ee !$e#e 'rogre##ion# in
%re!oard-m+#ical #!a%% no!a!ion* clic) $ere&)
C F Fdim/ C
C .m 3dim C
C C8dim .m G C


PROGRESSIONS T6AT 7SE IN5ERTE. C6OR.S:
!"at#s an inverted c"ord$%

Inverted C"ords
C C-E F G C
C G-3 F-A G C
C G-3 Am F G G-3 C
C G E-G8 Am G-3 C



PROGRESSIONS THAT &SE SECONDAR' DO(INANT CHORDS)
(9$a!:# a #econdar( dominan! c$ord;)

Secondar* Dominant C"ords
C A .m G C
C E A .m G C
C F . G C
C . G C

PROGRESSIONS THAT &SE (ODA+ (I,T&RES)
(9$a!:# a modal mi2!+re c$ord;)

(odal (i-t.re C"ords
C F Fm C
C C-E Fm G C
C E F G C
C F .dim G C

Sequences starting from 2 chords:
1. C Dm| Bdim C| Am Bdim| G C [LISTEN] (new browser window)
2. C Am| Dm Bdim| Em C| F G C [LISTEN]
3. C G| Bb F| Ab Eb| F Bb C [LISTEN]
4. C Eb| Bb Db| Ab B| Gsus G [LISTEN]
5. C Am| G Em| Dm Bdim| C [LISTEN]
Sequences starting from 3 chords (Try holding first 2 chords
for 2 eats! then the 3rd one for "#:
1. C F Em |Dm G F |Em Am G C [LISTEN]
2. C G Am |Dm Am Bdim |Em C Dm |F G C [LISTEN]
3. C Am Em |Bdim G Dm |Am F G Em F G C [LISTEN]