Chord Progressions
There is something to be said for understanding chord progressions
In a typical jam session featuring traditional country , gospel and many oldies, the chord progressions are fairly predictable. Normally the chords played are the 1st, 4th and 5th in the key that is being played, therefore it will pay you to become familiar with the notes in the major scale for each key.
For example if someone is playing in the key of “C” we know that the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the “C” scale are C, F, and G therefore these will constitute the 3 main chords of that particular song.
Being an accordion player there is an easy way to determine these chords if we examine the button configuration of our left hand. Whatever key is being played – , the row of buttons directly below represent the 4th of the scale and the row of buttons directly above represent the 5th.
Assuming that the song being played is a basic 3 chord song, with some practice you will be able to feel where and when these chord changes occur. Once again learning how to construct these chords using your right hand is essential. That’s it for now. More about chord construction later. Put on some traditional country music and see if you can determine when the chord changes occur and what the chords are in any given key. Folsom Prison Blues would be an excellent place to start.