Interesting Chord Cycle

[AcousticShred]

I was in class just now and started working on something kind of interesting in the margin of my notes. I wanted to see how you could move between diatonic triads with only moving one note at a time what I got was this:

I - 1 3 5
iii - 7 3 5
V - 7 2 5
vii- 7 2 4
ii- 6 2 4
IV- 6 1 4
vi - 6 1 3

the cycle could also go the other direction so
I, vi, IV, ii, vii, V, iii

It seems the pattern is that the chords need to be a 3rd apart, and you can change just one note.

I think its kind of cool, not positive what it could be used for. Perhaps when you are working on voice leading and you have a ii chord to a IV chord you could use this to remember that you only need to change one note. Also keep in mind that the roman numeral symbols I used indicate a major key but this can be used for minor keys as well. Let me know what you think.

[Fendershredder]

Yes, moving in thirds always gives you two common tones.

Good discovery.

[CDguitar]

You probobly know this

When you move diatonic 7th chords in diatonic 4ths

The 3rd and 7th will flip flop (the guide tones or essential tones)

3rds blue
7ths red
Root black

.....I........IV.......VII.......III.......VI..... ..II........V........I
..Cmaj7..Fmaj7..Bm7b5...Em7.....Am7....Dm7.....G7. ....Cmaj7
|------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------
|---9------9------7------7------5------5------4------4
|---9------7------7------5------5------3------3------2
|----------8--------------7-------------5--------------3
|---8-------------7--------------5-------------3-------

[AcousticShred]

Originally Posted by CDguitar

You probobly know this

When you move diatonic 7th chords in diatonic 4ths

The 3rd and 7th with flip flop (the guide tones or essential tones)

3rds blue
7ths red
Root black

.....I........IV.......VII.......III.......VI..... ..II........V........I
..Cmaj7..Fmaj7..Bm7b5...Em7.....Am7....Dm7.....G7. ....Cmaj7
|------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------
|---9------9------7------7------5------5------4------4
|---9------7------7------5------5------3------3------2
|----------8--------------7-------------5--------------3
|---8-------------7--------------5-------------3-------

Cool, I kinda knew that instinctually but never really thought of it. Thanks!

[CDguitar]

Originally Posted by AcousticShred

Cool, I kinda knew that instinctually but never really thought of it. Thanks!

Maybe it would have been better with purple??

Now use tritones with the roots and see what happens.
Again just moving one note.

Charlie Parker

C Bb A Eb D Ab G Db C

[BOF]

Originally Posted by AcousticShred

I think its kind of cool, not positive what it could be used for. Perhaps when you are working on voice leading and you have a ii chord to a IV chord you could use this to remember that you only need to change one note. Also keep in mind that the roman numeral symbols I used indicate a major key but this can be used for minor keys as well. Let me know what you think.

It's very useful if you think in terms of chord substitutions. For example:

Imaj = 1 3 5 (of the key)
IIImin = 3 5 7 (of the key)
Imaj7 = 1 3 5 7 (notice both the Imaj and the IIImin triads within)

IImin = 2 4 6 (of the key)
IVmaj = 4 6 1 (of the key)
Imin7 = 2 4 6 1 (notice both the IImin and the IVmaj triads within)

IIImin = 3 5 7 (of the key)
Vmaj = 5 7 2 (of the key)
IIImin7 = 3 5 7 2 (notice both the IIImin and the Vmaj triads within)

etc, etc - there are many, many more examples

cheers,

PS I should have added, the more you get into chord spellings the more obvious and overt all of these similarities become. Consider also that Imaj9 contains the Imaj, IIImin & Vmaj triads.

[CDguitar]

How about two notes moving around a static note.
Using all Major triads

|---------------------------|-------|
|---------------------5--4--|-5---8-|
|---0--2--1--3--3--4--4--4--|-5-----|
|---2--3--3--3--5--5--6--4--|-5-----|
|---3--3--4--5--6--5--------|-------|
|---------------------------|-------|