There are four basic chord qualities: Major Minor Diminished Augmented

Basic chord qualities: AbbreviationExample Major nothing A Minor m Am Diminished dim. or º A dim. or Aº Augmented aug. or + A aug. or A+

I II III etc.

There are seven chords per key One for each different note in the scale

III IIIIVVVIVII I II III IV VVI VII

So, in the key of C: III IIIIVVVIVII I II III IV VVI VII CDmF GAmB dim C Dm Em F G Am B dim.

I IV and V are always major chords II III and VI are always minor chords VII is always a diminished chord

Let’s see how this works in some other keys. How about the key of G. The notes in the G scale are: GABCDEF#

Now, add the chord functions (the Roman Numerals): GA B C D E F# IIIIII IV V VI VII

Now, add the chord qualities: G Am B m C D Em F# dim. I II III IV V VI VII

Now, let’s analyze a song. “Blowin’ In the Wind” is in the key of D and uses the following chords: D G A A7 Bm

The chord functions (Roman numerals) for these chords would be: I IV V V7VI I IV V V7 VI D G A A7 Bm

The chord progression Bob Dylan wrote for the verses in the song is: D G D D DGAA7

This translates to: I IV I I D G D D I IV V V7 DGAA7

The chord progression for the chorus is: G A D Bm GADD

Which translates to: IV V I VI G A D Bm IV V I I GADD

Virtually all songs can be analyzed using this method. A chord “progression,” the formula of the song in Roman numerals, is the true essence of a song, not the chords themselves.

Most songs use I, IV, and V as their basis. “The Time of Our Lives” by Green Day is a prime example: G5 Cadd9 Dsus Em D C D Em G C D Key of G: I IVadd9 Vsus VI V IV V VI I IV I

Other songs are more complicated. Look at “Hotel California:” Bm F#7 A E G D Em F#7 G D Em F#7 Key of D: VI V7/VI V V/V IV I II V7/VI IV I VI V7/VI IV I VI V7/VI

Thinking in Chord Progressions is Fun! Try It With All Your Favorite Songs!!