Harmonic function of chords - How do we use chords and scales in songs? Part I

The most common technique for creating chord progressions:

1. Diatonic scale and chord progressions. This means by just using one scale at a time to create it's family of chords and all its diatonic substitutions. Example D minor, G seventh and C major are the II, V, I of C major. So you would create melody or solo ideas using the C major scale. This applies to all the twenty eight modes are ready covered. 

2. Another way to view a minor chord is the following: 

When you see a minor or minor seventh chord it usually can be thought of as:

A minor it is the sixth chord of C major, the two chord of G major and the three chord of 

F major. So we could use these three scales to solo of this one chord! This is sometimes called multiplicity. 

Assignment 1. Record the A minor chord (useing quarter note strums) for ten minutes and then practice playing each of these scales over the chord. As always use quarter then eight notes with a metronome to play indicated major scales. (also if you do not own a metronome use metronome on line.com) Notice how each scale brings out a different feel (mode). 

3. The next technique is when the root note of a chord is within the family of chords but the rest is not.                     Example in key of C major:

Regular diatonic chord progression -  Dm7 //// G7 //// C //// Am7 ////

Diatonic root non diatonic chord -      Dm7 //// G7 //// C //// A7 ////

The A note is the sixth degree of C major but the A dominant seventh is not within the 

C major scale. This is sometimes called a partial diatonic chord.

A dominant seventh is the V of D major. This is also called a secondary dominant.

This means we temporarily go in the key of D major. This is done to add flavor and a brief lift to a regular diatonic chord progressions. The Beatles used this technique many time in there writing. 

Assignment 2.

Record the following chord progressions and practice temporally going into the 

new major scale key.

Am7 //// E7 //// F //// G7 ////   (on the E seventh you would play the A major scale for one bar)

C //// F //// C //// F7 ////     (on the F seventh you would play the B flat major scale for one bar)

Em //// Am //// B7 //// Em //// (on the B seventh you would play the E major scale for one bar)

F //// A7 //// Dm //// Bb //// (on the A7 play D major, on the Bb play F major this makes the D minor aeolian). This works because D minor is the sixth of F major and the two of C major - multiplicity.

Remember to transpose to all keys one new key a week.