Let me start by showing you which chords correspond to each tone of a major scale:
1 tone – Major
2 tones – minor
3 tones – minor
4 tones – Major
5 tones – Major (dominant)
6 tones – minor
7 tones – Half Diminished
To understand the chart above, you need to understand that each tone of a major scale has an accompanying chord. For example, the following is a C major scale:
(C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C)
Each tone above has a corresponding chord. Simply add the ends of the table above to the scale as shown below:
C MAJOR
D MINOR
E MINOR
F MAJOR
G MAJOR / SUN
A MINOR
B MEDIUM DECREASE
To better understand the progressions, let’s number each chord:
1 = C major
2 = D minor
3 = E minor
4 = F major
5 = G dominant
6 = A minor
7 = B half – diminished
8 = C major
Now, to create a 2-5-1 chord progression (or any numbered chord progression), simply take the 2, 5, and 1 chord from the entire chord series above. That is, we would not use the chord 3, 4, 6 or 7.
Chord 2 is D minor; chord 5 is G dominant; and chord 1 is C major.
Here is the most basic 2-5-1 chord progression:
Dmin — Gdom — Cmaj
min = minor
dom = dominating
older = older
D minor chord = (D) + (F) + (A)
dominant G chord = (G) + (B) + (D) + (F)
C major chord = (C) + (E) + (G)
Example: To play a D minor chord, simply play the three notes shown above at the same time (D+F+A)
Progressions are just one way to get the harmony to support the melody. In any key if your melody sticks to the key it’s in:
The I chord will harmonize three notes, the V chord will harmonize two additional notes, and the IV chord will harmonize the remaining two notes. So I IV V chords will harmonize every note in a given melody as long as it stays in key.
You can replace the 2 chord with the 4 chord. So now we have the 2 5 1. You can expand the chord if you’re sitting on it for a while and you can play different bass notes to help create movement. That’s where we get the 1 3 6 2 5 1.
Chord 6 and chord 3 replace chord 1. And chord 7 replaces chord 5. Chord 6 can also lead to chord 4. This may all sound confusing, but it all starts with chord one, chord 5 and chord 4r.
If you only use these three chords, you can play along with most songs.
As you progress further, you can use the 2 5 1 as a little introduction to each new chord you’ll play. So, to enter chord one, you play 2 5 and then 1. When you want to go to chord four, you enter it by playing a 2 5 1 in the key of chord 4.
So if you were in the key of C and want to go to F, you enter F by playing G min7, C7 and Fmaj (2 5 1)
Now you have it! 2 5 1 are derived from 4 5 1 and over time have become embellishments and static chords on which to support the melody. For more educational music resources visit my website or stop by my blog!
