Keys, scales & chords
Songwriting Using a Major Key
Using chords from a major key to write your own song
Now that you have all of the chords in the key of C major you can have a shot at writing your own song. It's easier than you might think. Here are some things to try out:
1. Starting and ending with the chord of C, select any other two chords from the key. Write them down and strum each chord four times with an even beat. Here are couple of examples:
C / / / Dm / / / G / / / C / / /
C / / / Am / / / F / / / G / / / C
2. Now use different combinations of chords from the key. Here's an example of what you might end up with:
C / / / Am / / / F / / / G / / / C
3. Taking this example, or one of your own examples, try working out the sequence of chords.
For example: C is chord I from the key of C, Am is chord VI, F is IV, G is V, and C is I again.
The sequence is often called the 'progression'. Now you have the progression I, VI, IV, V, I, try playing the same progression in another key.
For example: I, VI, IV, V, I in the key of G is as follows: chord I is G, chord VI is Em, IV is C, V is G, and I is G again.
Compare the I, VI, IV, V, I chord progression in the two different keys.
When you move a piece of music, whether it's a chord progression or tune, from one key to another, this is called 'transposing'.
Understanding keys, scales and chords will help you to transcribe and arrange songs and to harmonise melodies. Being able to transpose quickly is also a very important skill for a guitarist and it greatly increases your value to other musicians. You'll find out a lot more about transposing, transcribing, arranging and harmonising later.
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