22. Using Degree Names (Part 1)

Putting Degree Names to Use in Music Production

Starting this time, let's put the degree names we learned last time to practical use.

In this first part on using them, we'll explain

• how to add famous chord progressions and progressions you like to your repertoire

.

Chord progressions aren't protected by copyright, so feel free to adopt them.
The previous lesson is essential, so if you haven't read it, please study it below.

Analyzing a Song with Degree Names

First, please listen to this sample.

It's "Pachelbel's Canon," which you've probably all heard at least once.
This chord progression is still used in all kinds of songs today.
Let's unravel the chord progression of the first four bars of this piece.

First, identify the key.
If you have the sheet music, you can easily identify it by looking at the positions of the sharps.

Melody

A key with two sharps is...

D major.
Next, let's check the chords.

If there's no sheet music, try reading the key from the melody and chords.

• Melody

The notes are mainly from the D major scale.

• Chords

When you compare them with the chord table based on the key,

all of them are included in the diatonic chords of D major.
Now let's replace the chord progression used in the Canon with degree names.

Replacing chords with degree names like this is called "analyzing" a song's chord progression.
By analyzing, you can add progressions to your repertoire for writing songs in all kinds of keys.

In the second part next time, building on this method of analysis, we'll learn how to "change a song's key" and decipher famous progressions with degree names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What exactly are degree names?

Degree names are a method of writing notes and chords on the scale of a given key as numbers. For example, in the key of D major, assigning chords to each degree of the D major scale (1st, 4th, 5th, etc.) makes them easy to apply when changing keys.

Q2. Is it true that chord progressions aren't protected by copyright?

Yes, basic chord progression patterns themselves are not protected by copyright. However, melodies and arrangements are, so while it's fine to learn famous progressions and use them in your own compositions, you should avoid copying an entire song.

Q3. How can I determine the key of a song without sheet music?

You can determine it by listening for the central notes of the melody and comparing the chords used with a diatonic chord table. When multiple notes sound at once, it's effective to focus on the lowest note (bass note) or repeated notes.