Chord Progressions Used as a Turnaround – The “Blue Moon” Progression
Chord Progressions Used as a Turnaround – The “Blue Moon” Progression
Good morning. This is Duane. Today I’d like to talk about the Blue Moon Turnaround Chord Progressions. There’s lots of chord progressions that happen frequently in songs, but I think none probably more used than the Blue Moon Turnaround Progression at least for a 4 chord progression. Here’s what it is. It’s the 1 chord major going to the 6th chord minor going to the 2 chord minor going to the 5 chord major.
In actuality it would sound like this. The 1 chord, the 6 chord, the 2 chord, and the 5 chord. You’ve heard it. It’s called the Blue Moon Chord Progression because the song, Blue Moon goes like this. Let me just plunk it out a little bit. You’ve heard that. Okay. Now what I want to point out though is you use that turnaround progression when there’s a break in the music. When a phrase is completed.
I just completed a phrase there, so I’m going to use that progression to turna round. To turn around to get ready for the next phrase. Let me do it again. This time I’ll use the progression. 1, 6, 2, 5. 1, 6, 2, 5. 1. Now, did you hear that? When I got to the end of the phrase I used a filler of the turnaround. I went like this. Without a love of my 1, 6, 2, 5. Then we’re ready to go to a second phrase, blue moon. Get the idea?
It’s not only in the song, but you can use it as a turnaround. Let me apply it to … You can apply it to any song that has a phrase that rests and then come back to the 1 chord. Let me try Misty. I think it will work. 1, 5, 2, 5. I blew it there, but yes, it does work. Let me do it again. I’ll play Misty. Here’s the melody. See if I can remember the tune. Now watch 1, 5, sorry. 1, 6, 2, 5. And then we’re ready to start again.
You use that runaround when a phrase gets to the end and then you have enough time to play those 1, 2, 3, 4. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1. Whether the song is Blue Moon or Misty or whatever it is, you use that as a turnaround chord progression. Remember it’s 1, 6, 2, 5. Let’s do it in say E flat. Playing in E flat. Pretend I’m getting to the end of a song 1, 6, 2, 5.
Let’s do it in G. 1, 6, 2, 5. Let’s do it in F. 1, 6, 2, 5. Let’s do it in D flat. 1, 6, 2, 5. You can do it in any key, in other words. You have to use that same chord progression. 1, 6, 2, 5.
I hope I made that clear. I’m not sure I did, but anyway that chord progression, that Blue Moon chord progression can be used in a wide variety of songs as a filler when you get to the end of a phrase. Hope that helps. If you like this sort of thing, come on over to playthepiano.com and sign up for my free newsletter. You’ll get things like this most every day. Come on over and join us. We’ll see you there. Bye bye for now.