Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just an interesting Idea i had:
I think that we should just make a list of useful, basic or generally obscure chord progressions just for reference. Here are some that I made/probably stole from somewhere:
16 Bar Rag
|:I|VI7|II7 V7|I|
|I|VI7|II7| V7|
|I|I7|IV|II 1/2dim|
|I|VI7|II7 V7|I:|

This one is not quite finished)
|:IIm|I|VIm7 I|IIm:|

Now, of course, here is a basic 12 bar blues progression:
|:I|IV|I|I|IV|IV|I|I|V|IV|I|I V:|

Any additions are welcome.

Isaac, I'm slightly familiar with the Roman numeral designations, but what does the colon (":") signify?

That was a repeat sign that I mistyped...

Ah, got it! Thanks!

It Ain't Nobody's Business

G7//// B7//// C7//// C#1/2 dim//// G7// E7#9//

Am// D9// G7// C9// G7// D+5//


This one is cool too:

A6// A7// D9// F#-// A7//// A7//// D9//// F#-////

A7// Bm7// C#m7// Cm7// Bm7//// E9//// A7// D-//

Bm7// E9//

Bob, when typing chords out like this, an easier way to write C#1/2dim (Looks kind of unwiedly to me) might be C#m7-5 (-5 meaning flatted 5). In general, I prefer it to saying half-diminished, even if it isn't completely musically correct.

Gotta try some of those progressions!

// what are these for? each beat? //// for each bar? Or am I getting confused again?!!!

JB, how about C#-7b5? Jazz nomenclature.

JK, "/" means repeat the single beat previous. You may also see "%" which would mean repeat the previous measure.

Oh, dude, C#-7b5 is not the preferred nomenclature. C#m7-5, please.

C# what?!
What's the tab for this chord?

Sorry guys, my theory isn't all it could be. At least I don't refer to a 7#9 as "The Hendrix Chord." Man I hate that!

Anyway, yes, the //// represent beats. I chose to also write the tunes out in the keys of G, and A because I'm not good with Roman Numerals.

A C#-7b5 looks like this:

E--------------------------------------X
B--------------------5-----------------
G--------------------------------------X
D--------------------5-----------------
A--------------4-----------------------
E--------------------------------------X

In the context of the song, it's easiest to play the C#-7b5 when moving from the chord form below, of the C7 chord. All you need to do is slide your index finger up one fret. This position also allows you to play the inversions, (every 4 frets the chord inverts), as a phrase all the way up to the octave without changing your finger positions.

C7 chord

E---------3----------------------------
B--------------------5-----------------
G---------3----------------------------
D--------------------5-----------------
A---------3----------------------------
E--------------------------------------X

One good way to come up with more chord sequences is to write out verses & choruses that you like in Roman numeral sequences.

After you've got a few mix different choruses/verses/middles/bridges together in different keys than the originals, chord inversions/types & positions will sometimes turn them into totally different sounds, opposite to where the originals came from!

C#-7b5 (aka C# half diminished 7) is comprised of C#, E, G, and B. The combination of a perfect fifth (E/B) and a flatted fifth (C#/G) give it its unique feel.

JB, way to slip in Lebowski.

They finally did it. They killed my %^*& car.

Here's a swingin' little ditty. Moderate tempo, bluesy feel.


G// G7/Ab// Am7// D9// G// G7/Ab// Am7// D9//


G// G7// C7// C#m7b5// G// D9// G////



C9//////// G6//////// A6//////// D9// D#9// D9////

Sorry, there's a possible error in the changes above. I think the second chord actually is an Abm6b5 or Am13b5.

The chord form is:
E-------------------------------------X
B----------3---------------------------
G---------------4----------------------
D----------3---------------------------
A-------------------------------------X
E---------------4----------------------


G// Abm6b5// Am7// D9// G// Abm6b5// Am7// D9//


G// G7// C7// C#m7b5// G// D9// G////


C9//////// G6//////// A6//////// D9// D#9// D9////