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Author Topic: A Drill For Learning Progressions  (Read 8530 times)

Offline T-Block

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A Drill For Learning Progressions
« on: December 01, 2007, 12:11:46 PM »
Here is a little drill that I thought may help with getting progressions down in your head.  In order to accomplish this, you will need to know your major scales and be familiar with the complete number system.

As most of you have learned already, the musical ZIP CODE (# system) is 3-6-2-5-1. To complete the list two more are added:  (7)-3-6-2-5-1-(4)  This completed number system contains all the basic progressions in raw form that you will find not only in gospel music, but in all music.

Now, on to the drill.  It is very easy to catch on to, once you get the hang of it.  I'll break it down step-by-step:

1.  Pick any note

2.  Start by saying that note is the first number in the completed # system

3.  Fill-in the rest of the notes to complete the number system based off the note u picked in step 1.

4.  Take that same note from step 1, then go to step 2 and say it's the second number in the number system, then go to step 3 again.

5.  Repeat step 4 until the note from step 1 has been each of the numbers of the completed # system.

6.  Start all over again from step 1 using a different note.

Is that clear?  Probably not (LOL), so here's the illustrated version:

1.  Pick any note

C

2.  Start by saying that note is the first number in the completed # system

C = 7

3.  Fill-in the rest of the notes to complete the number system based off the note u picked in step 1.

C = 7    C = 7
_ = 3           F = 3
_ = 6           Bb = 6
_ = 2           Eb = 2
_ = 5           Ab = 5
_ = 1           Db = 1
_ = 4           Gb = 4

4.  Take that same note from step 1, then go to step 2 and say it's the second number in the completed # system, then go to step 3 again.

_ = 7           G = 7
C = 3    C = 3
_ = 6           F = 6
_ = 2           Bb = 2
_ = 5           Eb = 5
_ = 1           Ab = 1
_ = 4           Db = 4

5.  Repeat step 4 until the note from step 1 has been through each of the numbers of the completed # system.

_ = 7           D = 7
_ = 3           G = 3
C = 6    C = 6
_ = 2           F = 2
_ = 5           Bb = 5
_ = 1           Eb = 1
_ = 4           Ab = 4

_ = 7           A = 7
_ = 3           D = 3
_ = 6           G = 6
C = 2    C = 2
_ = 5           F = 5
_ = 1           Bb = 1
_ = 4           Eb = 4

_ = 7           E = 7
_ = 3           A = 3
_ = 6           D = 6
_ = 2           G = 2
C = 5    C = 5
_ = 1           F = 1
_ = 4           Bb = 4

_ = 7           B = 7
_ = 3           E = 3
_ = 6           A = 6
_ = 2           D = 2
_ = 5           G = 5
C = 1    C = 1
_ = 4           F = 4

_ = 7           F# = 7
_ = 3           B = 3
_ = 6           E = 6
_ = 2           A = 2
_ = 5           D = 5
_ = 1           G = 1
C = 4    C = 4

6.  Start all over again from step 1 using a different note.

C# = 7   C# = 7
_ = 3             F#= 3
_ = 6             B = 6
_ = 2             E = 2
_ = 5             A = 5
_ = 1             D = 1
_ = 4             G = 4

_ = 7              G# = 7
C# = 3    C# = 3
_ = 6              F# = 6
_ = 2              B = 2
_ = 5              E = 5
_ = 1              A = 1
_ = 4              D = 4

etc.


Notice how the notes change as you make your note a different number in the # system.  If you want, you can make a drill sheet for yourself using the pattern below and go through all your notes.  Just copy and paste it onto whatever computer program u use (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, etc.):

_ = 7     _ = 7
_ = 3     _ = 3
_ = 6     _ = 6
_ = 2     _ = 2
_ = 5     _ = 5
_ = 1     _ = 1
_ = 4     _ = 4


I garauntee that after going through this drill a few times, you will not only know your progressions better, but you will be reinforcing your major scales at the same time.  Any questions, feel free to ask me!!! :D
Real musicians play in every key!!!
Music Theory, da numbers work!

Offline CJKeyboardPlaya

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2007, 01:17:03 PM »
AHhh man let me get my "HANDY DANDY NOTEBOOK" and write this down... this some good stuff... :D :D :D :D

Offline chevonee

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2007, 03:54:35 AM »
AHhh man let me get my "HANDY DANDY NOTEBOOK" and write this down... this some good stuff... :D :D :D :D
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Offline Shadow_

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2007, 08:03:10 AM »
Thats a very useful drill TB. Thank you.
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Offline Bullitt

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2007, 09:48:46 AM »
Good stuff!  Got any similiar drills for the minor scale?

God Bless,
J

Offline GEE741

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2007, 08:06:02 AM »
Awesome as usual T-block. Thanks

Offline seemunny

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2008, 01:18:55 AM »
Indeed, very useful! 8)

Offline QCdrummer

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2008, 01:12:44 PM »
T-block, quick question....

So if I were to play the progression for example with C as the 7, F as the 3, Bb as 6, ect.... and match up the chords with the notes on the bass line, would that go together? I would have tried it myself but I'm at work.
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Offline T-Block

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2008, 02:00:18 PM »
T-block, quick question....

So if I were to play the progression for example with C as the 7, F as the 3, Bb as 6, ect.... and match up the chords with the notes on the bass line, would that go together? I would have tried it myself but I'm at work.

Yeah, that would put u in the key of Db, so it does go together.  The whole point of this drill is for you to find your key given one note as a particular scale degree.
Real musicians play in every key!!!
Music Theory, da numbers work!

Offline QCdrummer

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Re: A Drill For Learning Progressions
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2008, 02:25:56 PM »
Ok thanks man! I must admit that I started to cheating by filling in the numbers once I saw where the 1 was because it was getting hard. But I realized that that would only help me know the scales! lol Which won't help you if you are trying to learn progressions. lol. So this practice is opening my eyes on where to go once I know what key I'm in. Thanks for all your help!
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