Diatonic Chords

OK, if you’re a guitar player getting into songwriting here’s where you will probably want to start.  You may not need to know all of the intricities of scales and written music, but knowing your chords and how to use them will get you where you want to be.  Once you get a good grip on these songwriting will become very fun and easy.

Constructing Diatonic Chords from a Major Scale

If you’re just picking up an instrument and would like to start coming up with your own songs learning which chords will work in a given key is a great place to start.

Constructing Diatonic Chords from a Minor scale

Pretty much the same as ‘Constructing Diatonic Chords from a Major Scale’ above, but with some special rules specific to minor keys.

Creating Diatonic Chord Progressions

Here you’ll find a bunch of chord progressions that are commonly used in many songs that could also help with your own songwriting endeavors.

Non-Diatonic Chord Progressions

What about those chord progressions which use chords that aren’t normally in that key?  This should provide some help on why they work and the different moods they can create.

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