Consider the following progression...

Came across this in one of my recent church songs:

||: D / / / | Am7 / / /| C / / /| G / / / :||

Now, basic theory would tell you that this is in the key of G: V | ii | IV |
I ||

However, it sounds a LOT like it's in D, and the Am7 - C is vm-bVII in D,
with a weak plagal (IV-I) cadence in G; it's almost bitonal, D/G.

Reinforcing this is the fact that the melody rides on A (dominant of D) for
the first 2 bars, and G (dominant of C and tonic of G) for the next 2.

When we ply this live, the change from D to Am7 is a synethetic explosion
for me. Yeah I know you won't get that, but it's a HUGE change.

Yes, I know technically what to ply on each chord, etc. It's just a very
weird phenomenon.


Try it yourself: Play this chordaly on bass, keys, sequencer, or BIAB, and
see what you hear.

PS: Jim, you may point-by-point your heart out on this one. I'm interested
to know how others hear this.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Consider the following progression...
    ... However, it sounds a LOT like it's in D, and the Am7 - C is vm-bVII ... Reinforcing this is the fact that the melody rides on A (dominant of ... To me it comes across as D mixolydian, i.e., with G as the formal key ... rides on A" in the first two bars. ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • YOUTUBE LINK TO SONG
    ... Verse and chorus are on the same progression. ... basic theory would tell you that this is in the key of G: ... However, it sounds a LOT like it's in D, and the Am7 - C is vm-bVII in D, ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • Re: Consider the following progression...
    ... However, it sounds a LOT like it's in D, and the Am7 - C is vm-bVII ... for the first 2 bars, and G (dominant of C and tonic of G) for the ... Play this chordaly on bass, keys, sequencer, or ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)