Hey Charlann,

There aren't exact rules, but there are trends in certain genres, and these trends sometimes become "standard" progressions.

Blues is a great example. the 12 bar blues in C would be:

C F C C
F F C C
G F C C

with maybe some minor changes.

A lot of pop music is based on Blues, so the 12 bar, 8 bar, and 16 bar standard progressions find their way into Country, Rock and Jazz.

Then other progressions become standardized;

Southern Rock:

D C G G
D C G G

is used in "Sweet Home Alabama" and as part of hundreds of other Southern Rock tunes.

Doo Wop music:

C Am Dm G
C Am Dm G

James Brown's type of funk would stay on one chord for a long time, then maybe do a bridge in another chord, then back to the first.

Anyone have more examples?

Mike


You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music