When it comes to writing chord progressions, it’s easy to get caught up in the harmony and forget about the melody. However, incorporating strong inner melodic movement can take your chord progressions to the next level and make them more memorable. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips and tricks for writing chord progressions with strong inner melodic movement.
Passing chords
One way to incorporate strong inner melodic movement in your chord progressions is to use passing chords. Passing chords are chords that are played between two other chords to create a smoother transition. Because they are typically not diatonic (within the key) they build tension. However, they resolve quickly as they do not last long. This also creates an opportunity for the melody to include non-diatonic notes which can make it more interesting and create nice voice leading opportunities.
(Ex: G-F#, F)
Inversions
Another technique to consider is using inversions. Inversions are when you invert the order or chord tones inside of a chord. For example, a major triad consists of the chord tone 1,3,5. This is called “Root position” because the root is in the bass. First inversion would be 3,5,1 and second inversion would be 5,1,3. Inversions can be an interesting way to play the same chord, yet make it sound different. It can also help you outline the melody if the melody note is a chord tone, because you can voice the chord with whatever the melody note is as the highest voice of the chord. Inversions can also make for great bass movement. For example, if the chord progression is I-IV-V, you can play the 1 chord first in root position, then in first inversion before arriving at four. This puts the third of the chord in the bass, so the bass notes go like this: 1, 3, 4, 5. Instead of just: 1, 4, 5.
Structure
It’s also important to pay attention to the arc of your chord progression in order to create a song that feels well paced and keeps the listener engaged. A very common song structure is “AABA” where each letter represents a section of the song, or independent chord progression. Another common song form is: “Intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, verse or chorus again, outro. These are just outlines you can use to help you get started. Feel free to alter them to your liking.
Also consider using techniques such as modulation, where you change the key of the song temporarily, or using a pivot chord, which is a chord that can be used in two different keys. Temporality shifting to a different key center can give the song a sense of movement. Often times the bridge or B section will be in a different key, and then return to the original key.
Starting with the Melody
Choosing different starting points can help you conceptualize songwriting in different ways, therefore getting different creative results than you typically would. Try starting with: chords, melody, lyrics, all separately to see what challenges they make you work through, as well as what comes naturally with each. The melody is arguably the most important part of a song, so it makes sense that starting with the melody can yield positive results, as well as create interesting opportunities for harmonizing notes of the melody. A strong melody can inspire the chords and give them direction. Begin by creating a simple melodic line that you can build upon. Once you have a melody, you can start thinking about the chords that will support it.
Arpeggios:
Arpeggios are the notes of a chord played one at a time. Since they are single notes, they contain inbuilt melodic potential. They are also guaranteed to work over your chord, since it is just the notes of the chord. In addition to providing melodic content for a chord progression, using arpeggios can add texture to the rhythm or accompaniment part.
Conclusion
Writing chord progressions with strong inner melodic movement can take your music to the next level. By starting with the melody, using chord inversions, adding passing chords, using arpeggios, and crafting strong song structures, you can create interesting chord progressions that support your melody. Incorporating these techniques into your songwriting can provide you with more tools to express yourself emotionally and achieve a greater sense of depth with your music.
Happy songwriting!
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