I really want understand why certain chords go where they're placed and also progressions. i listen to alot of people george benson, johnatan dubose, joey woolfolk, norman brown, lee ritenour, just a little bit of everybody
Well chords are classified as major or minor depending on the relationship between the root and the next highest note. If the next highest note is a major 3rd (two whole-steps) above the root, the chord is major. Conversely, if the next highest note is a minor 3rd (1 1/2 stpes) above the root, it is a minor chord. The location of major and minor chords within the context of the major scale are the natural result of where the notes fall and the resulting spaces or steps between them. For example, in the key of C major, E is a major third above the root so this prodcues a major chord. If we move to D, the next note, F is a minor third above and therefore produces a minor chord. So for all major scales, regardless of key, the chords derived from the major scale are as follow:
I - Major (Tonic)
II - Minor (Supertonic)
III - Minor (Mediant)
IV - Major (Subdominant)
V - Major (Dominant)
VI - Minor (Submediant - this also the relative minor scale to the tonic)
VII - Minor b5 or Half-Diminshed (Leading tone)
In additon the basic major and minor chords, you can also incorporate the 7th and other extentions. Of course, for real fun, don't forget altered and outside chords. More on that later.
