Originally Posted By: swingbabymix


This seems to be helpful. But I don't quite understand.
I need to take my time.


Micro-mini course. Read the legend at the bottom of the diagrams. The 'I' chord is the tonic chord. Were we in the key of C Major, the C Major chord would be the 'I' chord. The 'V' chord is the dominant chord. In the key of C Major this is G Major chord. So in Key of C Major I = C; ii = Dm (minor chords are lower case); iii = Em; IV = F; V = G; iv = Am; and iiv = B diminished. This use of Roman numerals is usually called the 'Nashville System.'

In other words, whatever key you chose, take G Major for example, G will now be the 'I' or tonic.

The beginning rule of progressions - to be broken once you understand it - is start with a tonic or 'I' and end with a dominant or 'V' before returning to the tonic in the next verse, chorus, etc.

These diagrams work for all keys as they focus on the intra-key relationships common to all. There are directional arrows to certain of the green shapes that indicate when you leave the blue areas, sometimes there are only specific ways there and back.

These diagrams contain practically everything anyone needs to know about which chord can follow which chord.

Last edited by DFT; 01/04/23 08:32 AM.
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