chord change
New chord arrives
A chord change is the moment in music when one chord transitions to another, or the specific progression from one chord to the next.
Musicians study chord changes to understand harmonic movement: The song has some tricky chord changes in the bridge.
In jazz, learning a tune's changes means memorizing its chord progression.
Sequential forward movement
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- tensionStretched or strained state
voicing · inversion · seventh · diminished · augmented · suspended · major · minor
Note-playing hand technique
- transitionChange from one state
- voicingExpressing aloud
- barreFixed studio rail
- frettingAnxious rumination or surface wear
hand position · smooth · seamless · anticipation · preparation · muting · sustain · legato
Metered poetic passage
- chorusSingers performing together
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- pre-chorusSection preceding refrain
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
intro · outro · breakdown · hook · section · bar · measure · coda
Study of forces
- mood shiftChange in emotional state
- tensionStretched or strained state
- releaseTo let go
- colorVisual hue property
texture · emotional arc · dramatic · subtle · abrupt · unexpected · surprising · satisfying
progression
Sequential forward movement
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
tension · voicing · inversion · seventh · diminished · augmented · suspended · major · minor · tritone
fingering
Note-playing hand technique
- transitionChange from one state
- voicingExpressing aloud
- barreFixed studio rail
fretting · hand position · smooth · seamless · anticipation · preparation · muting · sustain · legato · timing
verse
Metered poetic passage
- chorusSingers performing together
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- pre-chorusSection preceding refrain
turnaround · intro · outro · breakdown · hook · section · bar · measure · coda · interlude
dynamics
Study of forces
- mood shiftChange in emotional state
- tensionStretched or strained state
- releaseTo let go
color · texture · emotional arc · dramatic · subtle · abrupt · unexpected · surprising · satisfying · bittersweet
- chord progressionsprogression, twelve-bar blues, twelve bar blues, blues progression, turnaround