Techniques for composing Chord Progressions

When I started composing Chord Progressions I mostly reused interesting Chord Progressions I found in my favorite popular songs. This was alright at first but I soon discovered this method to be a trap. Although I was able to generate interesting arrangements they did not permit me to explore new landscapes or be as original as I would like.

I took a formal class on Music Theory and was exposed to the concept of scales parenting groups of triads. For example, a C Major scale would parent the triads of C(Maj), D(Min), E(Min), F(Maj), G(Maj), A(Min), and B(Dim). I liked this idea and quickly extended it by organizing scales with more than triads. I would analyze a scale and find all of the 6th, Maj7, Min7, 7th, Maj9, Min9, and 9th chords that were members of the scale. Mostly I worked with the Major and Minor scales.

Once I organized chords in this fashion I found that I could try out various sequences and compose my own original Chord Progressions. Later a quantum leap happened as I began to collect scales from all over the world. Over time I acquired a library of 99 World Scales which provides a very large musical universe to explore.

I can now start with any World Scale of my choice and create original Chord Progressions. I can then jump beyond this another level by combining Chord Progressions of multiple World Scales into a single composition!

This technique provides a lot of freedom within a very safe environment. Almost any chord sequence I string together sounds good because the individual chords are all members of a group of related chords. This technique provides the freedom to be as original as you like.