Chords, Chord Progressions, and Creating Chord Progressions Using Loops in GarageBand!
Chord - a collection of notes played at the same time to create harmony
Chord Progression - a series of chords
The most typical chord progressions are based on the first, fourth, and fifth notes of the scale, so they are called I - IV - V chords. Some progressions also used the ii or vi chords. You can also refer to a chord by its root note (example: "C").
In C Major: CEG = I, DFA = ii, EGB = iii (rare), FAC = IV, GBD = V, ACE = vi, BDF = vii (rare)
GB Chords:
I = 0
ii = 2 (or -10)
iii = 4 (or -8)
IV = 5 (or -7)
V = 7 (or -5)
vi = 9 (or -3)
vii = 11 (or -1)
Song Examples:
I-IV-V-V Examples: La Bamba, Twist and Shout, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
I-IV-I-V Example: The Lion Sleeps Tonight
I-IV-V-IV Examples: Wild Thing, The Sweater Song, Louie, Louie
I-vi-ii-V Examples: Blue Moon, Heart and Soul, The Way You Look Tonight, Sleep Walk
Twelve Bar Blues I-I-I-I; IV-IV-I-I; V-IV (OR V) -I-I Examples: Shake, Rattle, and Roll, Hound Dog, Johnny B. Goode
The Twelve Bar Blues Progression can be used for any style song - it doesn't have to be blues.
First four measures: I I I I
Second four measures: IV IV I I
Third four measures: V V* I I
* could be IV
CREATING CHORD PROGRESSIONS USING GARAGEBAND
1. Open up a new Loops project in GarageBand, call it Chord Progression.
2. Find a loop you like. It's best to choose a short GREEN loop (4 beats) at first, to get used to the process. Or you can cut down a longer GREEN loop to 4 beats.
***3. You CAN alter the key of the blue loops, but the green loops are easier to work with.***
4. Drag a green loop into your song.
5. Under the TRACK menu, click on SHOW TRANSPOSITION TRACK.
6. Add the points on the line where you want the chords to change. Slide the transposition line to where you want it to be.
6. Now you are ready for Project #6!
Chord Progression - a series of chords
The most typical chord progressions are based on the first, fourth, and fifth notes of the scale, so they are called I - IV - V chords. Some progressions also used the ii or vi chords. You can also refer to a chord by its root note (example: "C").
In C Major: CEG = I, DFA = ii, EGB = iii (rare), FAC = IV, GBD = V, ACE = vi, BDF = vii (rare)
GB Chords:
I = 0
ii = 2 (or -10)
iii = 4 (or -8)
IV = 5 (or -7)
V = 7 (or -5)
vi = 9 (or -3)
vii = 11 (or -1)
Song Examples:
I-IV-V-V Examples: La Bamba, Twist and Shout, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
I-IV-I-V Example: The Lion Sleeps Tonight
I-IV-V-IV Examples: Wild Thing, The Sweater Song, Louie, Louie
I-vi-ii-V Examples: Blue Moon, Heart and Soul, The Way You Look Tonight, Sleep Walk
Twelve Bar Blues I-I-I-I; IV-IV-I-I; V-IV (OR V) -I-I Examples: Shake, Rattle, and Roll, Hound Dog, Johnny B. Goode
The Twelve Bar Blues Progression can be used for any style song - it doesn't have to be blues.
First four measures: I I I I
Second four measures: IV IV I I
Third four measures: V V* I I
* could be IV
CREATING CHORD PROGRESSIONS USING GARAGEBAND
1. Open up a new Loops project in GarageBand, call it Chord Progression.
2. Find a loop you like. It's best to choose a short GREEN loop (4 beats) at first, to get used to the process. Or you can cut down a longer GREEN loop to 4 beats.
***3. You CAN alter the key of the blue loops, but the green loops are easier to work with.***
4. Drag a green loop into your song.
5. Under the TRACK menu, click on SHOW TRANSPOSITION TRACK.
6. Add the points on the line where you want the chords to change. Slide the transposition line to where you want it to be.
6. Now you are ready for Project #6!