The IV/V
to V7 Progression
My daughter who is five years
old plays the violin, and I
often write music for her and
accompany her. Recently, I
gave her a new melody to play
and started playing an intro.
I was a little surprised to see
that she instinctively knew when
to start playing. It could
have been because she has heard
me play so much and she knows
what I am going to do.
Perhaps I am just too
predictable. However, I
prefer to think that that she
instinctively interpreted a
progression I used as her entry
point.
This week, I want to talk
about that progression which is
useful both as an entry point as
well as in a modulation to a new
key. Once you learn the
progression, you will find
yourself using it quite often.
First, let's talk about the
progression itself.
Remember that when you see a
IV/V chord, it means to play a
IV chord with a V (fifth note)
of that key as the bass.
Here is an example.
This is a Ab chord (with a
optional major 7th) played over
a Bb. Before I go further,
I will mention that calling this
chord a IV/V is a preference.
Other musicians may call it
something entirely different.
I am choosing to call it that
because it is easier to learn
that way. I could name the
chord in relation to the bass
note, meaning that it would a V7
chord with a 9th, 11th and 13th.
However, note that if I did
that, the 3rd (D) would be missing,
which happens to be a very
important note in a dominant
chord. So, in this
setting, I think the IV/V label is really
better.
That being said, the IV/V
chord leads very naturally to
the V7 which leads to the I
chord. Play this
progression and notice what I
mean.
Now, let's analyze this
progression for a moment by
comparing it with an example of
a more traditional approach.
It has been more common in
church music to end
introductions with the I chord.
Here is a typical introduction
for "I Surrender All."
Notice the typical use of the I
chord in the second measure.
Now, here is an introduction
with the IV/V to V7 progression.
The IV/V - V7 progression is the
last two beats of the second
measure.
So what is the difference?
In my opinion, the difference is
about movement. The first
example has no movement while
the second feels like it is
going somewhere. The
movement is coming from the
dissonance in the chords.
The V7 chord desperately wants
to resolve because of its
inherent dissonance. The
IV/V chord is even more
dissonant and resolves to the
V7.
So when can you use this
progression? Here are a
few ideas.
- During a modulation.
(I will give more details on
this next week.)
- At the end of an
introduction rather than a I
chord.
- Between verses of a
song.
- Within the verse of a
song between phrases
- Within a phrase itself
as a substitute progression.
(For example, you can change
a V7 - I cadence to a IV/V -
V7 - I.
Practice Strategy:
Learn how to play the IV/V -
V7 progression in every key.
If you invest ten minutes a
day, you will have this down in
a week. Also, pick a hymn
and learn how to incorporate
this progression in the five
ways I mention above. (If you do
not know how to modulate yet,
ignore that one for now.)
Next Lesson: How to modulate between keys
Return to Christian piano
lessons and downloads main page.
If you have a question about
this lesson or something you
would like me to cover, please
email me at
greg@greghowlett.com.
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