Key Center Soloing I: Major Key Chord Progressions

Key Center Soloing is when we use one scale to solo over multiple chords, all diatonic to the same key.

In order to solo using the key center approach, we first need to determine the common key of the chords in a progression (if there is one).

This post will take us through the process of identifying the common key of the chords in a progression and choosing an appropriate scale to solo over the progression.

This post will analyze major key chord progressions and the next one, minor key progressions.

Determining the Key Center

The process of determining the common key of a chord progression involves:

  1. Listing all the keys each chord in the progression belongs to.
  2. Identifying the common one.

Major Key Chord Progression #1

The progression in fig.1 includes four triads — C, Am, Dm and G.

Fig.1

Major Chords

First we will analyze the major chords in the progression (C and G).

A major chord is diatonic to three different major keys. Any given major chord can function as:

  • The I chord in a major key.
  • The IV chord in another major key.
  • The V chord in another major key.

C Major Chord

A C (or C major) chord can function as:

  • The I chord in the key of C major.
  • The IV chord in the key of G major.
  • The V chord in the key of F major.

G Major Chord

A G (or G major) chord can function as:

  • The I chord in the key of G major.
  • The IV chord in the key of D major.
  • The V chord in the key of C major.

Minor Chords

Next we will analyze the minor chords in the progression (Am and Dm).

A minor chord is diatonic to three different major keys. Any given minor chord can function as:

  • The ii chord in a major key.
  • The iii chord in another major key.
  • The vi chord in another major key.

Am Chord

An Am chord can function as:

  • The ii chord in the key of G major.
  • The iii chord in the key of F major.
  • The vi chord in the key of C major.

Dm Chord

A Dm chord can function as:

  • The ii chord in the key of C major.
  • The iii chord in the key of Bb major.
  • The vi chord in the key of F major.

Analysis

Our analysis tells us that each of the four chords in the progression is diatonic to the key of C major, the common key.

So we can use a C major scale to solo over the progression.

In the key of C major:

  • C is the I chord.
  • Am is the vi chord.
  • Dm is the ii chord.
  • G is the V chord.

Progression #1 is shown again in fig.2 with Roman numeral analysis.

Fig.2

Major Key Chord Progression #2

The progression in fig.3 includes four seventh chords (Amaj7, E7, F#m7 and Dmaj7).

Fig.3

Major Seventh Chords

First we will analyze the major seventh chords in the progression.

A major seventh chord is diatonic to two different major keys. Any given major seventh chord can function as:

  • The I chord in a major key.
  • The IV chord in another major key.

Amaj7 Chord

An Amaj7 chord can function as:

  • The I chord in the key of A major.
  • The IV chord in the key of E major.

Dmaj7 Chord

A Dmaj7 chord can function as:

  • The I chord in the key of D major.
  • The IV chord in the key of A major.

Minor Seventh Chords

Next we will analyze the minor seventh chord in the progression (F#m7).

A minor seventh chord is diatonic to three major keys. Any given minor seventh chord can function as:

  • The ii chord in a major key.
  • The iii chord in another major key.
  • The vi chord in another major key.

F#m7 Chord

An F#m7 chord can function as:

  • The ii chord in the key of E major.
  • The iii chord in the key of D major.
  • The vi chord in the key of A major.

Dominant Seventh Chords

Lastly, we will analyze the dominant seventh chord in the progression (E7).

A dominant seventh chord is diatonic to one major key. Any given dominant seventh chord can function as the V chord in one major key.

E7 Chord

An E7 chord can function as the V chord in the key of A major.

Analysis

Our analysis tells us that each of the four chords in the progression is diatonic to the key of A major, the common key.

So we can use an A major scale to solo over the progression.

In the key of A major:

  • Amaj7 is the I chord.
  • E7 is the V chord.
  • F#m7 is the vi chord.
  • Dmaj7 is the IV chord.

Progression #2 is shown again in fig.4 with Roman numeral analysis.

Fig.4

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