5.2 · Simple Diatonic Chord Progressions
Home and away
A progression leaves home and comes back. 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.
C
G
C
C
F
C
Stop before home
Stop the trip before I and it sounds unfinished. Your ear supplies the ending.
C
G
C
G
C
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.
C
G
C
G
D
G
Eb
Bb
Eb
Quiz
1 / 3Listen: did this loop come home?