Help understanding this chart (chord progressions) Update!

Chords, scales, harmony, melody, etc.
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I have a general understanding of chords themselves, and there progressions. For example the most common one being 1-4-5, but how exactly am I suppose to use/make sense of this chart? Start with the big square that says home and then what?

sorry I left the chart out *smacks forehead*

http://mugglinw.ipower.com/chordmaps/genmap.htm
Last edited by Wavves on Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Okay, I give up....

WHAT CHART??? :dog:

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Wavves wrote:Start with the big square that says home and then what?
I think it's meant to be the opposite.

Start somewhere outside, for example with the IIIm7b5 in the upper left and then follow the arrows to see various ways how you can reach "home" (the tonic of your song).

I have not enough theoretical knowledge to back up my statement though. :shrug:

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No_Use wrote:
Wavves wrote:Start with the big square that says home and then what?
I think it's meant to be the opposite.

Start somewhere outside, for example with the IIIm7b5 in the upper left and then follow the arrows to see various ways how you can reach "home" (the tonic of your song).

I have not enough theoretical knowledge to back up my statement though. :shrug:
I don't know much either but that sounds about right. I'm having trouble reading some of them though, like the one on the top far right "VIm7b5/b3" any help with this?

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Wavves wrote:
I don't know much either but that sounds about right. I'm having trouble reading some of them though, like the one on the top far right "VIm7b5/b3" any help with this?
I believe in the key of C it would be Am7b5 with C in the bass.

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Bobbotov wrote:
Wavves wrote:
I don't know much either but that sounds about right. I'm having trouble reading some of them though, like the one on the top far right "VIm7b5/b3" any help with this?
I believe in the key of C it would be Am7b5 with C in the bass.
Ah I see, what's the b5 stand for?

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Wavves wrote:
Ah I see, what's the b5 stand for?
It means to flat the fifth. In the case of Am7 it would be an Eb (i.e. A, C, Eb, G). If it was Fm7b5 the notes would be F, Ab, B, Eb. The specific chord notation for VIm7b5/b3 in the key of C would be Am7b5/C.

Try this site to have the notes spelled out for any chord:

http://www.apassion4jazz.net/keys.html

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To understand this chart you should read the tutorials available on his site. I've all these maps and it really helps me in trying out different chord progressions. Ok, here is the explanation:

1. The map is for any major key
2. Root key is the home key, for example C is the home key in C major
3. The basic rule is you can start with the home key then you can jump to anywhere in the map then through the arrow keys find your way back to the home key...

here is the example of 1-4-5, so in 1-4-5 scenario, you start with C which is 1 then jump to 4 which is F then 5 which is G then back to C.. try it on your keyboard.. this is the best tool for a songwriter.

I hope it helps.

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It's meant to give you ideas for chord progressions. The problem is, if you're doing something more complex than your simple diatonic progressions, you probably need to know how to voice it right and if so chances are that chart would hinder more than it would help.

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