CyberfretBass.com: Theory for Bass Guitar: Major Key Harmony

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Major key harmony

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The chords in a major key
A visual relationship

Chords in relationship the I chord on the 3rd string

Next we are going to take a look at how the chords would relate to each other if the I chord was on the 3rd string. This time we will use the key of D. For this visual relationship that you are learning, some keys work better in relationship to the I chord being on the 4th string, and some work better relating to the 3rd string. It is just a matter of trying to keep all of the arpeggios in the middle of the neck.

Below are the chords in the key of D.

I	IIm	IIIm	IV	V	VIm	VII^o
D	Em	F#m	G	A	Bm	C#^o

Here is a D major scale in the area if the D note on the 5th string. The D note is highlighted in red.

|------|------|--6---|------|--7---|--1---|------|------|-1st
|------|------|--3---|--4---|------|--5---|------|------|
|------|------|--7---|--1---|------|--2---|------|------|
|------|--4---|------|--5---|------|--6---|------|------|-4th
| | | |
3rd fret 5th fret 7th fret 9th fret

Here are all of the chords functions in the key of D, and how they relate to the I chord with the root on the 3rd string.

|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|-1st
|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
|-VIm--|------|-VII^o-|--I---|------|--IIm-|------|-IIIm-|
|-IIIm-|--IV--|------|--V---|------|--VIm-|------|-VII^o-|-4th
| | | |
3rd fret 5th fret 7th fret 9th fret

Basic arpeggios in the key of D

I |---|---|---|-4-| -1st
|-1-|---|---|-4-|
|---|-2-|---|---|
|---|---|---|---| -4th
      |
     5th fret

IIm |---|---|-3-|---| -1st
|---|---|-3-|---|
|-1-|---|---|-4-|
|---|---|---|---| -4th
|
7th fret

IIIm |---|---|-3-|---| -1st
|---|---|-3-|---|
|-1-|---|---|-4-|
|---|---|---|---| -4th
|
9th fret |---|---|---|---| -1st
|---|---|-3-|---|
|---|---|-3-|---|
|-1-|---|---|-4-| -4th
|
2nd fret

IV |---|---|---|---| -1st
|---|---|---|-4-|
|-1-|---|---|-4-|
|---|-2-|---|---| -4th
      |
     3rd fret

V |---|---|---|---| -1st
|---|---|---|-4-|
|-1-|---|---|-4-|
|---|-2-|---|---| -4th
      |
     5th fret

VI |---|---|-3-|---| -1st
|---|---|-3-|---|
|-1-|---|---|-4-|
|---|---|---|---| -4th
|
2nd fret |---|---|---|---| -1st
|---|---|-3-|---|
|---|---|-3-|---|
|-1-|---|---|-4-| -4th
|
7th fret

VII^o |---|---|-3-|---| -1st
|---|-2-|---|---|
|-1-|---|---|-4-|
|---|---|---|---| -4th
|
4th fret |---|---|---|---| -1st
|---|---|-3-|---|
|---|-2-|---|---|
|-1-|---|---|-4-| -4th
|
9th fret

Here are the same few chord progressions that you used to test you skills with the key of A. Now try them with the key of D.

I IV V I

I VIm IIm V I

IIIm VIm IIm V I

Page 3, A visual relationship of the chords in a major key, I chord on the 4th string

Page 5, Other possible chords within the key

Major key harmony jump zone

How the chords function in the key
Basic chords and functions in all of the major keys
A visual relationship of the chords in a major key, I chord on the 4th string
A visual relationship of the chords in a major key, I chord on the 3rd string
Other possible chords within the key

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The chords in a major key A visual relationship

Chords in relationship the I chord on the 3rd string

I IV V I

I VIm IIm V I

IIIm VIm IIm V I

The chords in a major key
A visual relationship