Key Center Soloing II: Minor 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.

My last post provided an analysis of major key chord progressions. This one will cover 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.

Minor Key Chord Progression #1

The progression in fig.1 includes five triads — D, Em, Bm, C and D.

Fig.1

Minor Chords

First we will analyze the minor chords in the progression (Em and Bm).

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

  • The i chord in a minor key.
  • The iv chord in another minor key.
  • The v chord in another minor key.

Em Chord

An Em chord can function as:

  • The i chord in the key of E minor.
  • The iv chord in the key of B minor.
  • The v chord in the key of A minor.

Bm Chord

A Bm chord can function as:

  • The i chord in the key of B minor.
  • The iv chord in the key of F# minor.
  • The v chord in the key of E minor.

Major Chords

Next we will analyze the major chords in the progression (C and D).

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

  • The bIII chord in a minor key.
  • The bVI chord in another minor key.
  • The bVII chord in another minor key.

C Major Chord

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

  • The bIII chord in the key of A minor.
  • The bVI chord in the key of E minor.
  • The bVII chord in the key of D minor.

D Major Chord

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

  • The bIII chord in the key of B minor.
  • The bVI chord in the key of F# minor.
  • The bVII chord in the key of E minor.

Analysis

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

So we can use an E minor scale to solo over the progression.

In the key of E minor:

  • Em is the i chord.
  • Bm is the v chord.
  • C is the bVI chord.
  • D is the bVII chord.

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

Fig.2

Minor Key Chord Progression #2

The progression in fig.3 includes five seventh chords (Am7, Em7, Bm7, Gmaj7 and Cmaj7).

Fig.3

Minor Seventh Chords

First we will analyze the minor seventh chords in the progression (Am7, Em7 and Bm7).

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

  • The i chord in a minor key.
  • The iv chord in another minor key.
  • The v chord in another minor key.

Am7 Chord

An Am7 chord can function as:

  • The i chord in the key of A minor.
  • The iv chord in the key of E minor.
  • The v chord in the key of D minor.

Em7 Chord

An Em7 chord can function as:

  • The i chord in the key of E minor.
  • The iv chord in the key of B minor.
  • The v chord in the key of A minor.

Bm7 Chord

A Bm7 chord can function as:

  • The i chord in the key of B minor.
  • The iv chord in the key of F# minor.
  • The v chord in the key of E minor.

Major Seventh Chords

Next we will analyze the major seventh chords in the progression (Gmaj7 and Cmaj7).

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

  • The bIII chord in a minor key.
  • The bVI chord in another minor key.

Gmaj7 Chord

A Gmaj7 chord can function as:

  • The bIII chord in the key of E minor.
  • The bVI chord in the key of B minor.

Cmaj7 Chord

A Cmaj7 chord can function as:

  • The bIII chord in the key of A minor.
  • The bVI chord in the key of E minor.

Analysis

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

So we can use an E minor scale to solo over the progression.

In the key of E minor:

  • Em7 is the i chord.
  • Am7 is the iv chord.
  • Gmaj7 is the bIII chord.
  • Cmaj7 is the bVI chord.

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

Fig.4

Related Posts

Related posts include: