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6.18
10 Chord Progression
Guidelines
6.18.1
How to Write Chord Progressions, Rule #1: Start with the Circular Harmonic
Scale
Use these 10 guidelines or "rules of thumb" as you craft your chord progressions. If you do, it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever create an unpalatable progression.
Here’s the first guideline.
To secure and preserve harmonic unity, always use the circular harmonic scale as your starting point, a basic chord progression framework.
In popular music, you only have three or four minutes to make a complete musical statement. Using the circular harmonic scale as your basic organizing framework makes it easy for you to establish tonality. As already mentioned, that’s the purpose of a four- or eight-bar instrumental introduction to a song.
If you don't establish tonality, the ear just hears random chords and tones, and gets confused or bored quickly.
Establishing a harmonic centre early also enables you to create harmonic contrast (see Rule #4 below).