Skills · Scales & harmony
Changing chords by the shortest path
Find the common tones, move to close positions and keep the beat through the progression.
Open this skill in the app →Learn first
Next skills
Practised in these lessons
- Lesson 75
C–Am–F–G: choosing close positions
The right hand moves to close positions, the left hand changes roots.
Open → - Lesson 184
Complete piece: four chords tell a story
An eight-bar piece of close-position chords: C–Am–F–G and home to C.
Open → - Lesson 80
Canon progression: keeping common tones
Accompany a song with close positions in the right hand and roots in the left.
Open → - Lesson 105
A minor: i–iv–V–i
Play Am–Dm–E–Am with the major V from the harmonic scale.
Open → - Lesson 112
One–five–six–four: key of C
Move the progression by degree numbers and hear each chord's role.
Open → - Lesson 113
The same progression in G
Move the progression by degree numbers and hear each chord's role.
Open → - Lesson 114
The same progression in F
Move the progression by degree numbers and hear each chord's role.
Open → - Lesson 115
Two–five–one: the feeling of coming home
Move the progression by degree numbers and hear each chord's role.
Open → - Lesson 192
Complete piece: The Canon progression
Four variations over the same I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V progression, growing to the last phrase.
Open → - Lesson 117
ii7–V7–Imaj7: close voice leading
Keep the common tones; each new note moves only one step.
Open → - Lesson 119
A bass line descending under the chords
Read G/B and Am/G; the bass is its own melodic line.
Open → - Lesson 135
C - F - G - C
Changing chords with close positions
Open → - Lesson 136
Two knocks at the door
Changing chords on half notes
Open → - Lesson 138
The short way home
Voice leading through vi-ii-V-I
Open → - Lesson 158
A little garden path
Changing chords with close positions and half notes
In Peaceful Days · 18 short pieces
Open → - Lesson 160
Afternoon on the porch
The i-iv-v-i progression and a gentle minor colour
In Peaceful Days · 18 short pieces
Open →