minor key chord progressions

[caymandiver55]

First, I wanted to say thanks to Neil for creating the TARGET membership and providing these detailed lessons. Hotel California is in B minor and Neil explains that Bminor is the one chord and F# is the five chord. The relative major key is D, so we are keeping our C# and F# sharps.

I know that in Major Keys theory tells us that the 1 chord is Maj. 2 chord minor 3 chord minor 4 chord major 5 chord major 6 chord is minor 7 chord is diminished. Like many here I understand the concept of 1,4,5 or 1,6,2,5 progressions using a major key.

How does this chord progression theory apply to songs in minor Keys ? If you are in C the six chord is A minor. Does that now become the 1 chord for that key if the song is in A minor? How would the sequence for a standard minor key chord progressions work? Which chords are considered major or minor ? Obviously the 1 chord in minor and the 5 chord is major from the hotel California lesson. I am hoping this question will help others as well. Thanks in advance.

JJ

[Max]

Hi,

You are right about step VI of the major key being step I of the relative minor key. The minor key includes all the notes and chords of the relative major key, as well as 2 additional notes that are used when you are using the melodic minor scale (see the intermediate lesson Three Minor Scales).

These 2 additional notes create additional chords that are in the key as well. The most common altered chord is chord V, which can be major or dominant 7.

Sorry to be so brief but I hope this helps get you headed in the right direction for now.

Neil

[caymandiver55]

Thanks Neil,


Let me see if I have it correct then. Your minor key is found at the 6th of your major key. That is the natural minor and a standard minor key progression would be Chord one Minor, Chord Two diminished, chord three Major, chord 4 and 5 minor, chord six and seven Major. THREE SIX AND SEVEN are your major chords in any natural minor key. Am I correct? THANX

JJ

[caymandiver55]

I am disappointed that I cannot get an answer to my question. Neil's answered in a brief manner initially as he wrote in the post. Like many players we all have points of missing knowledge of music theory, and I thought my follow up was a relevent question that would be helpful to many others.

JJ

[AndyT]

Since Neil did not answer, you were most likely correct. He only jumps in when you are wrong or not 100% correct and just need a slight course adjustment.

[AndyT]

Sorry guys- busy with the server migration the last few days. But, as Andy pointed out...

RIGHT! Way to and glad things are clearing up. I will try to address this more as I get to developing more theory stuff.

Neil

[caymandiver55]

Thanks all, I appreciate the information. I put a query in ask.com and found some interesting lesson material pertaining to this there as well.

JJ