Song Chord Transitions
an outline (excerpts).
(c) 1995 by Ken Sockwell. All rights reserved. This is reprinted from the worship manual titled In His Presence. For a information about receiving a complete copy of the manual, click here.
Introduction
A minimal amount of music theory is needed to understand how these key changes work. Even if the leader is stopping between songs, a smooth transition between keys needs to take place. Remember, you can always stay in the same key for several songs. After two or three, it can sound a little stale, though. When counting chords (I,ii, iii, IV, V, etc.), remember to take into account any sharps or flats. (For those who know little or nothing about music theory, the roman numerals correspond to the seven steps of the scale. So, in the key of G, a V, or five chord is a D, five up from G. For further reading you may want to pick up a beginning theory book.)
Major keys change easily to:
1. Keys one whole step higher, by way of the V chord of the new key. Examples:
Key of D to key of E: Play D, B (or B7), E
Key of C to key of D: Play C, A (or A7), D
2. Keys a fourth higher, by changing the I chord of the first key to a 7th. Examples:
Key of D to key of G: Play D, D7, G
Key of C to key of F: Play C, C7, F
3. Keys a fifth higher, by going up one step, making it a seventh. Examples:
Key of C to key of G: Play C, D7, G
Key of G to key of D: Play G, A7, D
4. To minor keys a third lower, go directly OR go to V of the old key, or V7 of the new key. Three examples are:
Key of G to em: Play G, em OR
Key of G to em: Play G, D, em OR
Key of G to em: Play G, B7, em
So, by following these examples, if you are in the key of G, you can go easily to C, D, A, or em. If all else fails, go to the V or V7 of the new key.
Minor Keys
Minor keys are generally more difficult to get out of.
1. To a major key a third higher, go directly OR go to V of the new key. Examples:
Key of em to G: Play em, G OR
Key of em to G: Play em, D (or D7), G
2. To a major key a major third lower, go directly OR go to V of the new key. Examples:
Key of am to F: Play am, F OR
Key of am to F: Play am, C (or C7), F
3. To a major key one half step higher, go to the V of the new key. Example:
Key of em to F: Play em, C (or C7), F
4. From one minor key to another one, go down a third. Most others do not work well. Examples :
gmin to emin
So, a song in the key of emin can go easily to G,C,F, and c#minor.
In closing, smooth key transitions are important in making sure that worship flow is not interrupted.
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