5.1 · Progressions

Home and away

A progression leaves home and comes back: that is the whole idea. I → V → I is the tense version, I → IV → I the gentle one.

The smallest loops

Both trips leave I and come back. Compare the two returns.

Stop before home

Stop the trip before I and it sounds unfinished. Your ear supplies the ending.

Same story, any key

Here's the same I → V → I trip starting from three different homes: C, G, then E♭. The notes all change; the story doesn't. That's why we name chords by their role, not their letters.

Quiz

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Listen: did this loop come home?

Listen first. Then answer.
Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson. A perfect run sticks: a later miss never undoes it.The pop loop →