Progressions Ear Training

Topic: Progressions

The progression from one chord to another is the harmonic bedrock of music.

Some genres such as the blues are even defined by their characteristic progressions, while hip-hop, and drum'n'bass are notable for their lack of harmonic movement.

Particular chord changes tend to have characteristic uses, and learning their sounds is very empowering as a musician. For example, a chord change such as the 'perfect cadence' can create a powerful sense of resolution, or in the hands of Richard Wagner can take the listener in unsettling new directions.

Though a musician is free to string together any chords to create their own chord progressions, Western music typically follows particular rules and traditions of harmony that result in the familiar musical sounds we all know instinctively just through regularly listening to music. This means there are some particularly effective ways to organise chords, and a number of classic chord sequences such as the "three chord trick", the "circle of fifths" and the "doo wop progression".

Ear training can help you to recognise chord changes and common chord progressions, allowing you to:

Easily transcribe the music you hear
Play songs by ear
Gain an appreciation for the characteristic progressions that define a genre
Be a flexible performer, improvising arrangements by understanding the underlying harmonies
Harmonize melodies when song-writing
Solo over unfamiliar changes when improvising

Read our most popular article about chord progressions