Root movement: down a fifth, down a third, up a second

Three ways a root can move

A progression is a series of root moves, and each move has a sound. Songs use three above all: down a fifth, down a third, up a second.

Down a fifth

E A D G C

Each chord pulls to the next, the way V pulls to I. The strongest forward motion.

Down a third

C A F D

Each pair of chords shares two notes, so little changes from one to the next.

Up a second

C D E F G

Neighbors share no notes, so every step is a full change, and the line rises.

Each chain played in reverse. Up a fifth walks away from home one chord at a time; up a third and down a second undo the moves above.

Every root rises a fifth. Nothing pulls forward; the chain just gets further from I.

The thirds chain backward. Still smooth, still two notes shared each time.

The seconds chain backward. Full changes at every step, and the line falls to home.

1 / 5

Two chords. Did the root fall a fifth, fall a third, or rise a second?

Listen first. Then answer.

1 / 3

Which root move is the strongest forward motion?