Video summary

the system i use for making chord progressions

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / concepts

  • Chord progressions can be created (and understood) using scale degrees and a number system, rather than relying only on memorized chord shapes.
  • The foundation is:
    • A scale (notes that “go well together”)
    • Most importantly, the major scale
    • Then building triads/chords by mapping each scale degree to a quality:
      • Major / minor / diminished
  • With that “blueprint,” you can extend chords to fit common jazz/soul/neo-soul sounds using:
    • Chord extensions such as maj7, min7, dom7, half-diminished.
  • Chord qualities carry emotions, and mixing them intentionally is part of the power of the method.
  • You can analyze existing songs by converting their chords into numbers, then reuse or modify what you learn.
  • The method is emphasized as practice-driven: it becomes useful only when you can play/recognize it fluently (ideally with your hands on keyboard/keys).

Detailed methodology / instruction-like steps

1) Learn the major scale pattern (by semitone intervals)

  1. Start on the root note.
  2. Build a major scale using these semitone jumps:
    • 2 semitones to get note #2
    • 2 semitones to get note #3
    • 1 semitone to get note #4
    • 2 semitones to get note #5
    • 2 semitones to get note #6
    • 2 semitones to get note #7
    • 1 semitone to return to note #8 (back to the 1)
  3. Practice by playing C major (recommended), and optionally D major.
  4. Goal: make it automatic (“muscle memory”), not just theoretical.

2) Convert major scale degrees into basic chord qualities (triad blueprint)

Assuming a major scale, the triad quality by scale degree is:

  • 1 = Major
  • 2 = Minor
  • 3 = Minor
  • 4 = Major
  • 5 = Major
  • 6 = Minor
  • 7 = Diminished

Then repeat back to 1.

This is presented as the core “blueprint” behind many progressions (including common numeric movements like 4 → 5 → 1).

3) Add Roman numeral context (major vs minor visual shorthand)

Use Roman numerals to label scale-degree chords:

  • “Big” numerals = major
  • “Small” numerals = minor

This reinforces the mapping back to the scale degrees.

4) Learn common jazz/soul/neo-soul chord extensions for each scale degree

The “next level” is learning how extensions attach to each degree, especially:

  • maj7, min7, dom7, half-diminished (often noted as min7♭5)

For a C major example (implied mapping of degrees to extensions):

  • 1 (major) → major 7
  • 2 (minor) → minor 7
  • 3 (minor) → minor 7
  • 4 (major) → major 7
  • 5 → dominant 7 (explicitly differentiated from major/minor 7)
  • 6 (minor) → minor 7
  • 7 (diminished) → minor 7 flat 5 / half-diminished
  • Back to 1

Key instructional takeaway:

  • Don’t only memorize the triad qualities—memorize which extension corresponds to each degree.
  • Especially emphasized:
    • 2 = min7
    • 5 = dom7
    • 1 = maj7
  • Then repeat the same extension logic in another key (e.g., D major) to generalize.

5) Use the number system to recognize emotional motion in progressions

The method frames a progression as a kind of “story”:

  • 2 can feel like “setting the scene” (neutral / minor)
  • 5 (especially dominant 7) creates tension
  • 1 resolves to “home”

Practical exercise described:

  • Listen to a progression and guess which numbers are being used (example: 2 → 5 → 1).

6) Analyze songs by converting their chords to numbers

The instructor emphasizes that they often don’t originate progressions from scratch—they absorb them through analysis.

Method:

  1. Pick songs you like
  2. Identify the chords
  3. Convert those chords into numbers using the number system
  4. Use that discovery to create your own progressions

Example given: “Last Christmas”

  • Described as: 1 → 6 → 2 → 5 → 1
  • Framed as creating motion and tension that leads back to resolution.

7) Use “spice” by stepping slightly outside strict rules (color changes)

Jazz/neo-soul is described as involving subtle deviations that stay emotionally coherent.

Examples mentioned:

  • Swap 1 major7 to 1 dominant7 for extra color/emotion.
  • Change a chord that’s usually major (like 4) to minor in context (4 → 4 minor) to create a new, pleasing tension/color shift.

Key instruction:

After you internalize the “blueprint,” you can modify it intentionally instead of doing it randomly.

8) Recommended learning pathway (final recap)

Learn in order:

  1. Major scale
  2. Number-system chord blueprint (1 major, 2 minor, etc.)
  3. Jazz/soul extensions on top (maj7, min7, dom7, half-diminished)
  4. Analyze songs by mapping chords to numbers
  5. Apply those numbers/extensions to your own compositions

Speakers / sources featured

  • Speaker: The unnamed primary instructor (speaks throughout; refers to “I,” “my videos,” and explains their method).
  • Sources / referenced songs:
    • “Last Christmas” (Wham!)
    • “Dream” by Al Green

Original video