Community Challenge | 14
 

Write something in a Major Key

Submit your creations to the community forum. These don't have to be perfect songs. They could be a rough sketch you spent five minutes tinkering with, then recorded on your cellphone. It could be something you hum while you strum. You're welcome to go all out with drums, bass, and keys using fancy recording software, but you never have to!

This one is pretty straightforward, but here are some ways to approach it:

Beginner: Write a simple three, four, or five chord progression using only chords from a Major Key. If you need a refresher, check out the first lesson of Music Theory Monday for a reminder on how chords in a key word - then check out lesson 3 on 7th chords if you want to get slightly fancier.

For example:

Triads in the key of D Major:          D          Em    F#m    G           A   Bm    C#dim
7th chords in the key of D Major: Dma7 Em7 F#m7 Gmaj7 A7 Bm7 C#half dim

A chord progression in D Major might like like: D D Em A D D Bm G

Intermediate: Write two chord progressions that complement each other using chords from a major key. Something like verse and chorus. If you like, write a melody over the top.

Advanced: Write a whole song or set of sections with melody, bass, rhythm - just make sure you're in a Major Key! Secondary Dominants are allowed and I would accept some modal chord borrowing (like a mixo bVII) or even some sneaky blues stuff.

Please be prepared to explain how and why your creation is in a major key, as well as any other quirks about your creation! Part of the goal here is for you to participate within your current understanding of music theory. Writing CERTAINLY doesn't need to be this way all the time, but these challenges are supposed to help you apply what you're learning, so it's best to set out to write within your ability to explain.

Make sure you're submitting something you've written based on your interpretation of this assignment.
The goal is to write something new, not to submit something you've already written.