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    The incredible power of “6-2-5-1″ chord progressions in gospel songs!

    by Jermaine Griggs · 22 comments

    in Chords & Progressions,Gospel music

    By now, I doubt I need to go over the individual scale tones and corresponding chords, as we’ve covered these basic fundamentals in the last two month’s of lessons. If you haven’t read January and February’s newsletter, scroll above to get the link to the newsletter archives, where you can view all 2004 newsletters.
    Meanwhile, let’s get right to work.
    The following chart will list my favorite “6-2-5-1″ progressions. I will start each progression with the “1″ chord just so that you get a sense of what major key the chord progressions start and end on.


    “6-2-5-1″ Chord Progressions

    The following examples will be in the key of Db major:
    A ” / ” slash means that the note to the right will be played on the bass (left hand).
     
    “1″ “6″ “2″ “5″ “1″
    Bb Eb Ab / Db Ab C Db F / Bb Gb Bb Db F / Eb C F A / Ab Bb Eb Ab / Db
    Db Eb F Ab / Db Ab C Eb G / Bb Gb Bb Db F / Eb F A C E / Ab Eb Ab Db / Db
    B F Bb / Db Ab D F / Bb G C Db F / Eb Gb C F / Ab B F Bb / Db
    F B / Db D Ab / Bb Db G / Eb C Gb / Ab B F / Db
    Ab Db Eb F / Db Ab B D F / Bb G Bb Db E /Eb Gb B C E / Ab B F Bb / Db
    Bb Eb Ab / Db Ab Bb C Eb / Bb G C Db F / Eb C F A / Ab Bb Eb Ab / Db

    Also, keep in mind that just because the progressions says “6-2-5-1″ doesn’t mean you must only play one chord on the “6,” one chord on the “2,” and so on…

    I actually like to play multiple chords on the “6.” Here are some examples below.

    From the “1″ chord in Db:

    (1) Ab Db Eb F / Db

    (6) Ab C Eb G / Bb

    (6) Ab B D F / Bb

    (2) Ab C Db F / Eb

    (2) G C Db F / Eb

    (5) Db Gb Bb / Ab

    (5) C F A / Ab

    (1) Bb Eb Ab / Db

    Notice how many chords I used in the above “6-2-5-1″ progression. The first chord of each scale tone was usually more subtle but the second chord of the two would always push us towards the next chord. For example, the first “6″ chord above led to a stronger “6″ chord, which ultimately led us to our “2″ chord. Keep these types of ideas in mind when playing “6-2-5-1″ or any other progressions for that matter!

    Related posts:

    1. Opening and closing your songs with “2-5-1″ progressions!
    2. Using “5-1″ Progressions To Enhance Your Playing

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    { 22 comments… read them below or add one }

    1 sangiwa eliamani

    Incredible !! God bless you msoooooooooooooomuch.
    What is the major difference between gospelkeys 202 and urban pro600?
    Thanks

    Reply

    2 lee

    how or where do i order gospelkeys202 already have gospelguitar101

    Reply

    3 Jermaine Griggs
    4 Jermaine

    @Sangiwa: GospelKeys 202 is all about contemporary worship. It is best suitable for someone at an intermediate level although students just finishing the GK101 have found great success with it. It basically teaches you several chords on every time of the scale, as it relates to worship music. You learn over 60 different chords and voicings on each tone. Then on disc 2, you combine these chords together to create “couples” — these are small little chord progressions that you find in your worship songs. once you’ve learned all your progressions, it’s time to put everything to work. You learn several songs using all the chords and couples you’ve mastered.

    GospelKeys 600 is definitely for the experienced. It explores a number of urban, r&b-sounding, gospel chords and progressions. The emphasis is on west coast-sounding chords and styles. Also, every chord pretty much utilizes both hands. Unlike 202 which dealt with chord on right and usually bass note or power chords on the left, GK urban pro 600 deals with chords in both hands. The chords and movements get pretty advanced. They are what you hear played by some of the greatest west coast musicians around. With the use of a bass player, you also get to see how to use these movements in real life settings.

    Depending on where you are, both courses can help.

    I hope this answers your questions.

    Reply

    5 sangiwa

    Thanks. I might have missed the reply ,however not disappointed. As you may know i have ordered some of the materials and looking forward to get going .
    WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTION ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELLY PRACTICE THESE LESSONS(THE DAILLY ROUTINE) ?

    Reply

    6 moses

    this lessons have add up a lot to my playing. thanx Jermaine. i will like to know more about passing chords.

    Reply

    7 Amankwah De-Joy

    I do not understand most of the chords you are trying to teach. I am a beginner and i really want to learn piano and bass guitar. Please help me. God richly bless you that you will help me

    Reply

    8 Jennifer

    I really trying to understand this number system which I believe that I got it down pat when practicing the scales, but I am a little confused when it comes to this numbers system with the progressions. If for example you have a 1-6-2-5-1 progression like the recent comment. To me it means, Db-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db. As a beginner I always thought that with three finger chords they are three different ways of playing, with the bass key being in the right finger chord. Am I wrong, or just confused?

    Reply

    9 Peter James Nelly

    Hi Mr JERMAINE GRIGGS,
    You said we don’t play only one one chord on “6″,”2″,”3″ and so on of a scale
    My questions are,
    -how many chords are you supposed to play on each of “6″,”3″ etc
    -how do you get those multiple chords without changing the base cause i see, you played from above AbCEbG/Bb and AbBDF/Bb on the “6″ chord.
    -I don’t understand where you got the chords in the above table like BbEbAb/Db ,DbEbFAb/Db etc.
    THANKS MR JERMAINE GRIGGS MAY GOD BLESS YOU THE MORE

    Reply

    10 Danny (p-rex)

    Nice voicings Mr. Griggs. I like them.

    I’ll make an attempt to help you out a little if you don’t mind Peter. You can indeed play multiple different notes over the same bass like that. To give you a basic picture of what that might look like imagine a simple C major chord. Play it C E G/C. That’s one way to play it. Now try B E G/C. The difference between the two is the B. The B is what’s called the major seventh of C. You could also play D E G/C. That would be replacing the C in the right hand with the D. That one is called an Add 9 chord. What Mr. Griggs did with the Bb chord is similar but with more advanced stuff. GospelKeys202 would definitely cover stuff like this. You might wanna check it out.

    Chords like Bb Eb Ab/Db would also be covered and explained in GK202. Just holla if you’re still curious though.

    Hope I was of assistance. Great post Jermaine. God bless.

    Reply

    11 ben

    any one with a 2-5-1 song that i can learn from

    Reply

    12 Sunny

    Thanks mr Jermaine for the 6-2-5-1s. Please i want 2 order for Gk:600 but i dont know if there’s an account number to pay to. Pls just put me through steps on ordering/buying dvds.thanks. sunny

    Reply

    13 Donville

    Thanks Jermaine,

    Your lessons are absolutely great. My playing at church etc. has improved tremendously.
    I am in Jamaica, How can i purchase dvds?

    Reply

    14 Jermaine Griggs

    Hi Donville,

    Thanks for contacting me.

    We ship everywhere! If you have credit card, you can order at http://www.hearandplay.com/products

    If you want to send money order, cashiers or bank check, go to: http://www.hearandplay.com/orderbymail

    Keep up the great work and if you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to ask me.

    All the best,
    JG

    Reply

    15 Bheki

    Thank you for giving out.May u receive in multilpes.

    Reply

    16 Nishant

    Hi Mr. Jermaine
    I have my own composition in E major scale following (E major,A major, B major,C#minor G#minor, G#major as accidental) chords in their lead melody..
    I just want your help to give some tips how to compose second melody or cello melody to harmonize the things…
    and counter harmony also if u can..
    Thanx

    Reply

    17 Adesokan

    Is there any music call highlife?
    If there is which chord can i play to it. Thanks

    Reply

    18 Gideon

    How to apply this chord progression to praise and worship songs

    Reply

    19 Bradford Jobs

    Really wonderful info can be found on this weblog.

    Reply

    20 Atere samuel

    nice one but,i need more on voicing

    Reply

    21 vitamins

    Greeting admire your blog take a look of mine

    Reply

    22 Jonathan

    My father is in prison he knows music theory wants to learn gospel music and has
    No access to a computers or Internet at all we are looking for gospel progresstions
    And sheet music, charts, riffs, fills anything that you think will be helpfull.
    Thank you God Bless.
    Jonathan

    Reply

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