Interactive Circle of Fifths. 1.) Click on a key name (C,D, Ab, G# etc…) to spin the circle until that key is at the top. The name in the red oval should always be the key you are interested in so make sure it is at the top. You are now working in that MAJOR key. 2.) Musical Scales. The Chord Guide: Pt I – Chord Progressions. Chord progressions are the canvas on which musicians paint their masterpieces, and it’s a canvas which is a piece of art in itself.
A chord progression can be subtle and in the background or it can be blatant and up front; it can be simple and catchy, or it can be technical and complex, it can stay in one key or it can change like the seasons. In any of these cases a chord progression is what drives the song as it literally shapes the music that accompanies it. Chord progressions are like a cozy home where melody and rhythm can kick their feet up. All the songwriting giants, like John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Bob Dylan, to name a few, have/had a tremendous knowledge of the art of the chord progression.
I’m not going to promise you tremendous knowledge, but I will offer you a good head start in the way of making your own music – in an easily digestible chunk to boot. Musical Form. There are several ways to approach a composition.
Start with overall planning then start sketching. Sketch first then develop an overall plan that fits your ideas. Note: Overall Planning is always in the equation. Sketching without thought of structure leads to aimless stream-of-conscious lack of cohesion. On Thinking about Structure: Today's composer can use traditional formal templates and modern techniques at the same time. Random Chord Progression Generator.