Hey Friend,

I put together a short exercise for you that runs you through playing the major key chord progression and then the minor. All the same chords are used, only the starting point changes.

The first progression is in the key of C major. As you play through it, see if you can feel the various levels of tension as it builds and then releases. As you get further from the tonic chord C, there is a subconscious tug you feel, either trying to pull you back to the root chord or to drive you forward towards the octave pitches.

 

As you move up the harmonic scale, the closer you get to returning to the root, the more you can feel like you're coming home.

The major harmonic progression feels like a happy ending to a story.

On the other side, minor progressions leave you in a darker place. They're more sad or ominous sounding, and the tension surrounding them lends well to metal themes - or sad love songs.

 

The tension seems to lessen a little around the major third, but that doesn't last very long. We come right back to two minor chords in a row, keeping the mood sad. 

 

Where major chords in the middle of the major key progression helped keep the happy train going, these minor chords do just the opposite for the minor key progression.

Here are the exercises:

(Right-click and "save link as" to save to your computer)

Catch you tomorrow.

Peace~

Dave