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[T-Block]

BASIC PROGRESSIONS

A progression is simply a group of 2 or more chords.  Each chord u play leads, or progresses, to the next chord.  The ultimate goal is to get back to the 1 chord of the key u in.  Progressions get their name from the bass / left hand notes u play.  This is based off the circle of 4ths, which is the circle of 5ths in reverse.  Here are the progressions that are used the most in gospel music.  I'll put them in the key of C:

First, the members of C:
C=1  D=2  E=3  F=4  G=5  A=6  B=7


1-5-1

This progression is usually found at the end of a song.  As u are playing this, once u play the 5, u should feel a strong urge play the 1.:

C / C-E-G (1)    C / C-E-G (1)     C / E-G-C (1)    C / G-C-E (1)
G / G-B-D (5)    G / B-D-G (5)     G / D-G-B (5)    G / G-B-D (5)
(repeat)            (repeat)              (repeat)            (repeat)


1-V7-1 progression

This is just a little variation of the 1-5-1 progression.  By adding in the minor 7th, it creates an even stronger urge to go to 1.  Now, u don't add the 7th of the key u in, u add the 7th of the chord.  The correct term for the V7 chord is the dominant 7th chord:

C / C-E-G (1)      C / C-E-G (1)       C / E-G-C (1)
G / G-B-D-F (5)   G / B-D-F-G (5)    G / D-F-G-B (5)
(repeat)              (repeat)               (repeat)

C / G-C-E (1)       C / G-C-E (1)
G / F-G-B-D (5)    G / G-B-D-F (5)
(repeat)               (repeat)


1-4-1 progression

This progression is also called the "Amen" progression:

C / C-E-G (1)    C / C-E-G (1)     C / E-G-C (1)     C / G-C-E (1)
F / F-A-C (4)    F / C-F-A (4)     F / F-A-C (4)      F / A-C-F (4)
(repeat)            (repeat)             (repeat)             (repeat)


1-4-5-1 progression

This is the most basic progression that can be used to play a whole song.  A lot of the hymns follow this progression:

C / C-E-G (1)       C / C-E-G (1)      C / E-G-C (1)     C / G-C-E (1)
F / F-A-C (4)       F / C-F-A (4)       F / F-A-C (4)     F / A-C-F (4)
G / G-B-D (5)       G / B-D-G (5)      G / D-G-B (5)     G / G-B-D (5)
(repeat)               (repeat)              (repeat)             (repeat)


1-4-V7-1 progression

This is a variation of the 1-4-5-1 progression.  Instead of playing a regular 5 chord, you can play a V7 chord:

C / C-E-G (1)      C / C-E-G (1)       C / E-G-C (1)
F / F-A-C (4)      F / C-F-A (4)        F / F-A-C (4)
G / G-B-D-F (5)   G / B-D-F-G (5)    G / D-F-G-B (5)  
(repeat)              (repeat)               (repeat)

C / G-C-E (1)      C / G-C-E (1)
F / A-C-F (4)      F / A-C-F (4)
G / G-B-D-F (5)   G / F-G-B-D (5)
(repeat)              (repeat)


Dominant 7th chord to 4

Whenever u have any kind of major chord, you can add the minor 7th of that chord.  Once u do that, it becomes a dominant 7th chord.  It naturally wants to go to 4 of the chord.  Key does not matter here:

C / C-E-G-Bb          C / C-E-G-Bb           C / E-G-Bb-C  
F / F-A-C (4 of C)    F / C-F-A (4 of C)    F / F-A-C (4 of C)  
(repeat)                    (repeat)                  (repeat)

C / G-Bb-C-E          C / Bb-C-E-G
F / A-C-F (4 of C)    F / A-C-F (4 of C)
(repeat)                 (repeat)


7-3-6 progression

This is a progression that by itself doesn't mean much.  But, when u add other progressions to it, it sounds really good:

B / B-D-F (7)     B / B-D-F (7)      B / B-D-F (7)
E / E-G-B (3)     E / G-B-E (3)      E / B-E-G (3)
A / A-C-E (6)     A / A-C-E (6)     A / C-E-A (6)
(repeat)            (repeat)             (repeat)

B / D-F-B (7)     B / F-B-D (7)
E / E-G-B (3)     E / G-B-E (3)
A / E-A-C (6)     A / A-C-E (6)
(repeat)            (repeat)


2-5-1 progression

This progression can be used instead of the 1-4-5-1 progression.  Sort of like a substitute progression.  I like this one better than 1-4-5-1 cuz it sounds better to me:

D / D-F-A (2)     D / A-D-F (2)      D / D-F-A (2)     D / F-A-D (2)
G / G-B-D (5)     G / B-D-G (5)      G / D-G-B (5)     G / G-B-D (5)
C / C-E-G (1)     C / C-E-G (1)      C / E-G-C (1)     C / G-C-E (1)
(repeat)            (repeat)              (repeat)             (repeat)


3-6-2-5-1 progression

This progression is the musical ZIP CODE.  If you want your chords to flow smoothly and naturally from chord to chord, follow this pattern as much as possible:

E / E-G-B (3)      E / G-B-E (3)      E / B-E-G (3)     E / E-G-B (3)
A / A-C-E (6)     A / A-C-E (6)      A / C-E-A (6)     A / E-A-C (6)
D / D-F-A (2)     D / A-D-F (2)      D / D-F-A (2)     D / F-A-D (2)
G / G-B-D (5)     G / B-D-G (5)      G / D-G-B (5)     G / G-B-D (5)
C / C-E-G (1)     C / C-E-G (1)      C / E-G-C (1)     C / G-C-E (1)
(repeat)             (repeat)              (repeat)            (repeat)


7-3-6-2-5-1 progression

As you can see from the name, it just combines all of the progressions above into one big progression:

B / B-D-F (7)     B / B-D-F (7)     B / B-D-F (7)
E / E-G-B (3)     E / G-B-E (3)     E / B-E-G (3)
A / A-C-E (6)    A / A-C-E (6)     A / C-E-A (6)
D / D-F-A (2)    D / A-D-F (2)     D / D-F-A (2)
G / G-B-D (5)    G / B-D-G (5)     G / D-G-B (5)
C / C-E-G (1)    C / C-E-G (1)     C / E-G-C (1)
(repeat)            (repeat)            (repeat)

B / D-F-B (7)      B / F-B-D (7)
E / E-G-B (3)      E / G-B-E (3)
A / E-A-C (6)     A / A-C-E (6)
D / F-A-D (2)     D / A-D-F (2)
G / G-B-D (5)     G / B-D-G (5)
C / G-C-E (1)     C / C-E-G (1)
(repeat)              (repeat)


Get familiar with all these progressions.  Listen to how each one sounds.  Also, pay attention to the inversions used.  I tried to use inversions of each chord that allow u to flow to the next chord w/out moving your hands too much.  It is very important to use the nearest inversion of a chord so u don't have to jump around the keyboard, unless u want to.  Since these are just basic progressions, i will be back with more familiar variations of these progressions that you hear in almost all gospel music today.

[BibleBeleiver]

Thank you for these progressions!

[T-Block]

Here is "Amazing Grace" using 1-4-5-1 and V7:

Key of C  LH/RH

A-
C / E-G-C (1) mazing
C / G-C-E (1) grace how
F / F-A-C (4) sweet the
C / C-E-G (1) sound, that
C / E-G-C (1) saved a
C / G-C-E (1) wretched like
G / B-D-G (5) me, I
C / C-E-G (1) once was
C / G-C-E (1) lost, but
F / F-A-C (4) now I'm
C / C-E-G (1) found was
C / E-G-C (1) blind, but
G / G-C-E (5) now
G / F-G-B-D (V7) I
C / E-G-C (1) see

[JoyCH]

Thank you T Block. Thiis is going to help so many people. I just hope they don't forget to say THANK YOU!  :wink:

Joy

[beantownborn]

Well, let me not forget to say thank you, T-block.  This will help me in my studying.  Stay blessed!

[RICHBET]

Thanks for these progressions T- Block.  As a beginner, I sometimes struggle with what I should put in my practice routine.  I have gotten pretty comfortable with doing scales each time I sit down to practice at least one time through.

I'll study these progressions as well now, doing at least 1 each time I sit down to practice.  I appreciate the advice.

[michaeln]

Thanks T-block for not leaving out the beginners.  As I mentioned to you before you are a blessing, to us that are striving to move forward in our chosen ministry.  May God continue to bless you and your house.  I sent you a couple of private message awhile ago and you answered back, and blessed me with the knowledge you have within thanks again.  I have more question, but this time I post them publicly so the blessing doesn't stop with me but, that it continues to grow until it returns to you 100 fold.

[stahin]

Thanks T. This will help me alot. Bless U

[T-Block]

Everybody is welcome.  I have a question, does anyone have trouble following the progressions?  On my computer, it lets me put the different versions of the progressions beside each other.  But on here I forgot that it smushes everything on one line together.  If yall need me to, I can go back and separate them all.  Just let me know.

[bigtforreal]

thank you!  this helps me tremendlously

[certify]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[BigKev]

Thank you T-Block. I appreciate it

[BigKev]

WOW!!!! I played that amazing grace, and it sounds very nice. I see how progressions are working....Im starting to get it more and more. Are their many more hymns that come out of these progressions?

[sjonathan02]

Everybody is welcome.  I have a question, does anyone have trouble following the progressions?  On my computer, it lets me put the different versions of the progressions beside each other.  But on here I forgot that it smushes everything on one line together.  If yall need me to, I can go back and separate them all.  Just let me know.

I wanna know what kind of computer you have  8O

[T-Block]

I have a Compaq computer w/Microsoft Office 2003.

[michaeln]

Hello T-block

I know you've spent a lot of time help us, could I ask a favor of you or anyone else here.  Could someone take one of the progressions and record it in midi, mp3, wave, wmv, mpeg, or any format so I (and others) can hear/see it played.  This will insure that the blessing is being received correctly.  If its to much I understand.  This will also help timing if its required.

[michaeln]

If you don't ask you don't receive.  I asked a question here but I think I was through another post on this cite.  Check it out and let me know this fall in line with my question.

http://www.brownfloyd.com/gallery/displayimage-48-24.html

[T-Block]

I don't have any midi equipment, sorry.

[michaeln]

My previous post should have said "I asked a question here but I think I was BLESSED through another post on this cite"  Thanks to all.

[dpaa]

i get tired of playing just 3 chords,(left hand) and little melody with right.. can you suggest any Eb's, Db's, etc.. where I walk up or down and sound good... or would the chord progression list be sufficient. I just can't seem to get the sound right on the keyboard..  like I can play I must tell Jesus
in the key of Eb..but it is so dry.. any suggestions out there!