I take something of a mechanical, deductive approach, which is arguably not ideal compared to listening for tension, resolution, and chord quality (though those things can absolutely still be part of it), and is pretty time-consuming, but it's how my brain works. Take it or leave it as suits you.
First, I find a note in each chord. Whatever note you can pick out. This gives me a sequence of notes. I match this on my electric piano that's right next to my computer. I now have a sequence of intervals.
For instance, let's say I match the notes B, C#, D. The interval pattern is +M2, +m2. Let's say the choices are ii-V-I, ii-I-V, and ii-IV-I. Which of those have that interval pattern?
I then refer to a cheat-sheet I have of the notes in the chords in the key of C. Again, it doesn't matter whether the progression is actually in C, as I'm just looking for interval patterns.
Does ii-V have an interval of +M2? Yes, taking the key of C as an example, Dm (DFA) to G (GBD) has two of them, A to B and F to G. What about ii-I? Dm to C (CEG) has two as well, D to E and F to G. And ii-IV? No, Dm to F (FAC) has no such intervals.
OK, so now we've eliminated one of the possibilities. To narrow it further, let's look at the second interval in the pattern. So, if we've gone from Dm to G (ii-V), we've landed on either the B or the G according to our interval pattern (relative to the key of C -- of course, our absolute notes are different). Does the I chord (to complete the ii-V-I pattern) have a note that is a m2 up from either B or G? Yes, the root of the C chord is up a m2 from the B in the G chord. So, that's a match.
But is the other pattern a match, too? If we go from Dm to C (ii-I), we've landed on either the E or the G (again, relative to the key of C). Does the V chord (to complete the ii-I-V pattern) have a note that is a m2 up from either E or G? No, it has the notes GBD, none of which fit the bill.
Voila! We now know that ii-V-I is the only match among the choices.
We've traced through the notes A, B, and C as matching the interval pattern, but of course the actual notes we matched are B, C#, D. We can now surmise that the progression is actually in the key of D (with chords Em, A, D), but the game doesn't require us to identify the absolute chords, just their relative harmonic functions, so that's just a bonus.
I'll add that sometimes just recognizing and matching the chord quality -- major, minor, diminished -- is quite sufficient to narrow down to the right answer. And if it doesn't narrow it all the way down, it can at least eliminate some of the possibilities to speed up the above process.
@Cherry Blow Yep, use the tools available to you, as long as they don't take away from the point of the exercise and its practical usage. In practice, using your instrument to help you figure out a chord progression is the most natural thing in the world, so using it in that context does not take away from the point of the exercise, in my view. (By contrast with, say, Solfefgiator or Interval Barks, where if you used an instrument to give you the pitches you are supposed to sing, it would ENTIRELY take away the point of the exercise.)
A Young Rapper With a Big Dream — Age Doesn’t Limit Me 🎶
I know I might be super young to be a rapper, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do this. 🎤 Artists like Ice Spice inspire me, and seeing how Lele started when she was really young, and how Young Dylan was doing it super young too, showed me that age doesn’t decide talent or dedication. That’s what made me realize I can do anything I put my mind to.
I’ve already written 17 songs, all in my drafts, even though I’m limited because I’m using a school Chromebook and can’t post the way I want yet. Still, I keep writing, keep practicing, and keep believing in myself because this is my dream.
I’m never giving up on this. I’m not letting anyone push me around or tell me what I can’t be. I’m focused, I’m hungry, and I’m working every day to get better. This is only the beginning of my journey, and I’m trusting the process.
If you support young artists chasing their dreams, I’d really appreciate your support. Every like, comment, and share motivates me more than you know. More music coming soon — I promise. 🙏🔥
Being a drummer first learning musician, I cannot count the amount of times rhythm has given me an edge or helped me out in an unexpected way with other instruments.
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Dec 17, 03:54
Dec 17, 14:08