What is a chord progression?

Prepare for the Academic Decathlon Music Test! Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions that include hints and explanations. Enhance your knowledge and boost your exam readiness today!

Multiple Choice

What is a chord progression?

A chord progression is the sequence of chords that move from one to the next in a piece of music, creating harmonic motion and a sense of direction. This is best described as a chain of triads, each pulling to the next, so the harmony feels like it’s flowing toward a resolution. For example, in C major, moving from C major to F major to G major and back to C major shows how the chords guide the listener forward and back home. Why the other descriptions don’t fit: a single triad that repeats identically sounds static and lacks progression; a sequence of notes in a scale describes melodic movement rather than harmony; a melody line with rhythmic variations focuses on tune rather than the harmonic backbone that chords provide.

A chord progression is the sequence of chords that move from one to the next in a piece of music, creating harmonic motion and a sense of direction. This is best described as a chain of triads, each pulling to the next, so the harmony feels like it’s flowing toward a resolution. For example, in C major, moving from C major to F major to G major and back to C major shows how the chords guide the listener forward and back home.

Why the other descriptions don’t fit: a single triad that repeats identically sounds static and lacks progression; a sequence of notes in a scale describes melodic movement rather than harmony; a melody line with rhythmic variations focuses on tune rather than the harmonic backbone that chords provide.

More practice questions