The Power of the Fifth
Octaves, fourths and fifths are the most consonant of all the intervals in music. This is found to be true across cultures and around the world and may be somehow inextricably linked to our DNA and how humans process sound. (see This Is Your Brain on Music)
As a pianist and composer I'm acutely aware of these facts in both my writing and performance. Above all I have come to embrace the fifth, it's structure and alterations in building and enhancing chord progressions. I encourage all students of music to digest thoroughly the "Circle of Fifths" and all its implications early in their study of music theory. Know the look of it, the sound of it, the power of it.
Power? Well, yes. Once any chord assumes the function of the dominant (the V chord of any key centre) then the next chord in any particular progression is evident. Yes, uh-huh, I know not all progressions move in fifths but eventually fifths emerge to round out any progression. It is a rare thing if they don't.
For instance, consider: Beginning on a C chord move down a minor 3rd to Am then down a major 3rd to F, up a major 2nd to G and then, finally, down a fifth (up a fourth) to C. (I-vi-IV-V-I). But what if we consult our circle of fifths and instead of moving down a 3rd from Am to F we decide to go Am down a fifth to Dm, then down a fifth to G then down a fifth to C (I-vi-ii-V-I)? We would have an infinitely more satisfying progression with great strength of resolution from chord to chord. Thus the power of the fifth.
This is perhaps an oversimplification of the whole concept but know that this is but the tip of an enormous iceberg that once explored will change how you listen to, play and write music.
More on fifths in chord progressions
As a pianist and composer I'm acutely aware of these facts in both my writing and performance. Above all I have come to embrace the fifth, it's structure and alterations in building and enhancing chord progressions. I encourage all students of music to digest thoroughly the "Circle of Fifths" and all its implications early in their study of music theory. Know the look of it, the sound of it, the power of it.
Power? Well, yes. Once any chord assumes the function of the dominant (the V chord of any key centre) then the next chord in any particular progression is evident. Yes, uh-huh, I know not all progressions move in fifths but eventually fifths emerge to round out any progression. It is a rare thing if they don't.
For instance, consider: Beginning on a C chord move down a minor 3rd to Am then down a major 3rd to F, up a major 2nd to G and then, finally, down a fifth (up a fourth) to C. (I-vi-IV-V-I). But what if we consult our circle of fifths and instead of moving down a 3rd from Am to F we decide to go Am down a fifth to Dm, then down a fifth to G then down a fifth to C (I-vi-ii-V-I)? We would have an infinitely more satisfying progression with great strength of resolution from chord to chord. Thus the power of the fifth.
This is perhaps an oversimplification of the whole concept but know that this is but the tip of an enormous iceberg that once explored will change how you listen to, play and write music.
More on fifths in chord progressions
posted by Gary Johnston | 10:29 a.m.
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