Lesson 8

guitar-tracks.com

Written by Stephane Gagnon

THE CYCLE OF THIRDS (First family) PART 1

Let's look at harmonic progressions as superimposed thirds. We will need four notes forming three consecutive 3rds.

The chords of the first family will have a - + - + - + - +......sequence of thirds (meaning: one minor third, one major third, one minor third.....) and will basically display two kinds of chords: Xm7 and X major7.

You can start your sequence from any chord and play any consecutive seven chords (7 individual chords).

These chords can also be extended to the 9th. the 11th or the 13th very easily. Here is an example in C (Cm7 is the starting point).

Cm7 = Eb, G, Bb,

Cm9 = Eb, G, Bb, D

Cm11 = Eb, G, Bb, D, F

Cm13= Eb, G, Bb, D, F, A

Compare these notes to the chord cycle below and you will see that the added notes are just the next ones in line.

Choose seven consecutive chords and mix them up. Have fun.

Cycle of thirds, first family