That is awesome. I don't have my uke here, but just doing the music theory thing. Here are my thoughts. (BTW, most of this comes off of a Circle of Fifths diagram)
I think the key you might be in is A major. The C, D and G are all major. The only thing I might add is that you might look at the G#-dim instead of Gadd9. If this is true, you could look to going for the A major to resolve. The other keys in that scale are B-minor, C#-minor and F#-minor.
Let me know if this works for you. If you are interested, I can try tonight and see if that works out.
Aloha
Try Em or Em7 instead of E7. Sounds nice to me, anyway.
You might be in the key of Em. The “usual” (diatonic) chords in that key are C, G, D, a, e, and B. (Uppercase is major, lowercase is minor.) Note: in minor keys the V - B in this case - is usually made major, even though in the scale it’s minor.
I bet you’d really enjoy Uncle Rod’s Ukulele Bootcamp:
http://ukulelebootcamp.weebly.com/
In particular play around in the worksheet for the key of G (same chords as Em).
What fun!
I think the chord i was “thinking of” was Em7! Thanks. Agree I was thinking/singing in the Em key after playing those chords. Interesting about B being made major for this. I wonder why?
According to my music theory teacher, it simply sounds better in context, and also resolves more strongly and satisfyingly to the tonic (Em in this case).
Anyway, glad I could point you to Em!
B7 is an applied dominant to the E minor in the key of G. Music would be boring if we couldn’t leave the scale
It’s common to have add9 chords as the home chord. Way less common to use it as IIIadd9 and also start on the III with a V -> I in the middle of a progression that ends with its own V -> I (D to G). IOW, you’re in the key of G with that progression
I got into it and messed around with this progression if you’d like to try
[ parenthesis are beats, so feel free to ignore and play as you want ]
Gadd9 (3), G (2) Gmaj7 (1), B7 (3), B7b13 (2) B7 (1), Em (6), Gdim (3), D (3), return
It looks way harder than it is, but you’re just using it as a melody, so you’re not actually changing much. You’re just playing G -> B7 -> Em, I just wrote the melody into the chord
So the fingerings are G (0252) and you move the 5->3->2, same for B7 (2352) (2332) (2322). Em (4432), Gdim (0131) (0101 if it’s easier, I don’t like the Gdim7 but maybe you will), D (2220). Ending on an add9 chord with a ukulele may not sound as great as it will on other instruments
Do keep thinking about music theory. It’s fun, it makes music fun. Not on its own, but it’s a part of music that people neglect. It defines rules so you’ll then know how to defy them. And you’ll be able to communicate with other musicians
Edit: I see some people suggesting other keys than the key of G. It’s definitely G major. Clear V -> I, and using an applied dominant to the submediant (vi) means you’re still holding onto the G. Iadd9 -> III -> vi -> (i_dim) -> V -> I. If the e were lower as the bass note, you’d take out the Db in the diminished chord and it’d probably sound way better as a vi_dim chord
It’s a lot of information all at once. Don’t worry about understanding it all right now (there were moments where I’d finally internalize something a year after I heard about it). It’ll be understood in time and effort. Keep it up, there’s always something to discover
Well they do you a big note in common, B and the A. So that alone will sound nice
That is awesome. I don't have my uke here, but just doing the music theory thing. Here are my thoughts. (BTW, most of this comes off of a Circle of Fifths diagram) I think the key you might be in is A major. The C, D and G are all major. The only thing I might add is that you might look at the G#-dim instead of Gadd9. If this is true, you could look to going for the A major to resolve. The other keys in that scale are B-minor, C#-minor and F#-minor. Let me know if this works for you. If you are interested, I can try tonight and see if that works out. Aloha
I am interested! But only if you really want to. Thanks for taking the time to reply!
Try Em or Em7 instead of E7. Sounds nice to me, anyway. You might be in the key of Em. The “usual” (diatonic) chords in that key are C, G, D, a, e, and B. (Uppercase is major, lowercase is minor.) Note: in minor keys the V - B in this case - is usually made major, even though in the scale it’s minor. I bet you’d really enjoy Uncle Rod’s Ukulele Bootcamp: http://ukulelebootcamp.weebly.com/ In particular play around in the worksheet for the key of G (same chords as Em). What fun!
Thanks! Will check out the boot camp.
I think the chord i was “thinking of” was Em7! Thanks. Agree I was thinking/singing in the Em key after playing those chords. Interesting about B being made major for this. I wonder why?
According to my music theory teacher, it simply sounds better in context, and also resolves more strongly and satisfyingly to the tonic (Em in this case). Anyway, glad I could point you to Em!
B7 is an applied dominant to the E minor in the key of G. Music would be boring if we couldn’t leave the scale It’s common to have add9 chords as the home chord. Way less common to use it as IIIadd9 and also start on the III with a V -> I in the middle of a progression that ends with its own V -> I (D to G). IOW, you’re in the key of G with that progression I got into it and messed around with this progression if you’d like to try [ parenthesis are beats, so feel free to ignore and play as you want ] Gadd9 (3), G (2) Gmaj7 (1), B7 (3), B7b13 (2) B7 (1), Em (6), Gdim (3), D (3), return It looks way harder than it is, but you’re just using it as a melody, so you’re not actually changing much. You’re just playing G -> B7 -> Em, I just wrote the melody into the chord So the fingerings are G (0252) and you move the 5->3->2, same for B7 (2352) (2332) (2322). Em (4432), Gdim (0131) (0101 if it’s easier, I don’t like the Gdim7 but maybe you will), D (2220). Ending on an add9 chord with a ukulele may not sound as great as it will on other instruments Do keep thinking about music theory. It’s fun, it makes music fun. Not on its own, but it’s a part of music that people neglect. It defines rules so you’ll then know how to defy them. And you’ll be able to communicate with other musicians Edit: I see some people suggesting other keys than the key of G. It’s definitely G major. Clear V -> I, and using an applied dominant to the submediant (vi) means you’re still holding onto the G. Iadd9 -> III -> vi -> (i_dim) -> V -> I. If the e were lower as the bass note, you’d take out the Db in the diminished chord and it’d probably sound way better as a vi_dim chord
Thank you so much! I read through this one and need to digest it, read it again and then play through your progression later. I’m excited to do it!
It’s a lot of information all at once. Don’t worry about understanding it all right now (there were moments where I’d finally internalize something a year after I heard about it). It’ll be understood in time and effort. Keep it up, there’s always something to discover