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GMC Forum _ THEORY _ Coomon Minor Chord Progressions

Posted by: Guitar1969 Mar 17 2012, 09:43 PM

I know in the major keys, the most common chord progression is I IV V. I seem to have a good grasp of major keys but am limited in my knowledge of Minor keys. What are the most common chord progressions in a minor key. Are there a few that really stand out in rock, as I would like to start experimenting more with this. I seem to always come up with major progressions only.

Thanks,

Michael

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 18 2012, 10:47 AM

Hey Michael, one that I hear a lot in rock and metal is I VI VII.. for example Em, C then D. You won't find a single Iron Maiden song without it

Posted by: Alex Feather Mar 18 2012, 11:15 AM

QUOTE (Guitar1969 @ Mar 17 2012, 08:43 PM)

It would be the same thing I-IV-V
For example Dmi-Gmi-Am
Usually you can use minor chords instead of major and it still gonna work!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 18 2012, 02:34 PM

If you want some modal progressions, you can check out the post below:

Dorian progressions - be sure to check the theory included, so that you may fully understand the progressions

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=39243&st=80&p=566956&#entry566956

if there are things you'd like to ask, I am here man

Cosmin

Posted by: The Professor Jan 28 2013, 12:35 AM

My favorite is less metal but still fun to play.

Dm-Dm/C-Bb-A7

The "Stray Cat Strut" progression

I also like the minor blues progression

Like in Am

Am/Am/Am/A7b9/

Dm/Dm/Am/Am/

F7/E7/Am7/E7b9/

Check em out.

Posted by: klasaine Jan 28 2013, 01:08 AM

| Dm F | G A7 | is a nice one.

*play the F as an Fadd9 like this xx301x

Posted by: The Professor Jan 28 2013, 09:06 AM

Another cool one for sure! As a variation of that, kinda, I like

Dm7 / Fmaj7 / Em7b5 / A7b13

Funky jazz turnaround to use on minor tunes.

Posted by: evilcman Feb 14 2013, 01:33 PM

An other really common progession that I really like is the Andalusian cadence.
The most basic form usually used is (in A minor):
Am G F E(7)

Quite common in Flamenco, but also in 60's pop/rock music (Eg. Beach Boys- Good Vibrations).

Other variations are also quite common.
E.g. Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing uses this:
Dm C Bb A A7 F Dm

The "Stray Catr Strut" progression mentioned
by The Prof earlier can also be considered a
variation of this, probably. Well, the VII is missing,
so maybe not, but it is similar.

Posted by: klasaine Feb 14 2013, 06:06 PM

That cadence is usually thought of as being in E phrygian/phryg dom. though. Starting on the iv chord Am.

Posted by: evilcman Feb 14 2013, 06:28 PM

QUOTE (klasaine @ Feb 14 2013, 06:06 PM)

That cadence is usually thought of as being in E phrygian/phryg dom. though. Starting on the iv chord Am.

Yes. That is true, if you think of the E as the root and the progression itself being a cadence than it is in E phrygian dominant.
On the other hand if you close the piece with Am after a loop of Am G F E-s, that means you close the piece with the
V-i in A minor. In this case this is not a cadence, but an ostinato. Despite it's name, it is used more often this way, I think.

Posted by: klasaine Feb 14 2013, 07:23 PM

Yes it's 'used' more often as Am G F E7 and I too (being from the states) hear it as an A minor key center.
But if you think E phrygian and E phryg/dom for any melodic ideas you'll get all the 'cool' notes as well as interesting view and re-alignment of it's interval collections.
In flamenco music they absolutely think of that prog as starting on a iv chord and it being in the key of E phryg ... even if the ultimate resolve is an A minor chord.