The Blue Moon Chord Progression – What Is It?
How To Learn & Use The Blue Moon Chord Progression
This week I want to share with you the most-used chord progression in the world – the blue moon chord progression. Â It’s been called the “We Want Cantor” progression, , the “Heart and Soul” progression, and other names. I’m going to call it the “2 kids at a piano” progression. The reason I call it that is because when I was a kid I used to play this progression (long before I knew what a progression was!) as a duet along with my brother, or my cousin, or a friend. I’m not a kid anymore, and yet I still hear that progression over and over and over again anytime there is a piano sitting around and a couple kids in the room. One kid takes the top part (the melody), and the other kid plays the bottom part (the chord progression).
You’ve heard it too. At least a zillion times. The formula is easy: I – VI – II – V. In other words, one measure of the I chord, one measure of the VI chord, one measure of the II chord, and one measure of the V chord. And then repeat as many times as you want, or until some adult says, “Would you kids please stop banging on that piano?”
Blue Moon Progression:
I – vi7 – ii7 – V7
So in the key of C, that would translate to:
I = CÂ Â Â vi7 = Am7Â Â Â ii7 = Dm7Â Â Â V7 = G7
There are many variations to this progression. Usually the two “middle chords” — the VI and the II — are played as minor chords, and are then known as vi and ii (use small Roman numerals for minor chords). Usually, too, all the chords except the I chord have a 7th in them –in other words, in the key of C:
C – Am7 – Dm7 – G7
***For lots more good stuff on piano playing come on over to my website at https://www.playpiano.com and sign up for our free piano tips – “Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions!”
Here’s a great little book on chords and chord progressions on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Chords-Chord-Progressions-Exciting-ebook/dp/B0076OUGDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404158669&sr=1-1&keywords=piano+chords+duane+shinn
You’ll learn piano chords galore and how to apply them when you play piano – major chords, minor chords, augmented chords, diminished chords, 6th chords, 7th chords, 9th chords, 11th chords, 13th chords, suspensions, alterations and more.
Here is the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITO1dszsEwU&feature=youtu.be
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