Dark Minor
Many of these are on the Progressions PDF, which includes matching scales.
Minor Chords a Third Apart
| Key | Progression | Description/Style |
|---|
| Cm | Cm - Em | Evokes an ’evil plan’; Major 3rd up, sinister and foreboding. |
| Cm | Cm - Ebm | Suggests ’evil in the dark’; Minor 3rd up, dark and mysterious. |
| Cm | Cm - Abm | Implies ‘pain, loss, ghosts?’; Major 3rd down, haunting and sorrowful. |
| Cm | Cm - Am | Indicates ‘spiritual connection’; Minor 3rd down, mystical and deep. |
Stacked Minor Chords for Emphasis
| Key | Progression | Description/Style |
|---|
| Cm | Cm - Em - Abm - Cm | ‘Very evil plan’; Stacked Major 3rds, intensifies the sinister vibe. |
| Cm | Cm - Ebm - Gbm - Am - Cm | ‘Very evil in the very dark’; Stacked Minor 3rds, deepens the darkness and mystery. |
Minor Progressions with a Twist
| Key | Progression | Description/Style |
|---|
| Dm | Dm - F - C - Gm | Mixes hope with despair, leading from minor to a brief major respite before returning to depth. |
| Em | Em - G - D - Am | Creates an unsettling journey, hinting at resolve that ultimately turns introspective. |
| Am | Am - C - G - E | Oscillates between contemplation and a soaring, unresolved tension. |
| Bm | Bm - D - A - F#m | Weaves through a narrative of struggle and resilience, ending in a somber reflection. |
Progressions with Diminished Chords
| Key | Progression | Description/Style |
|---|
| Em | Em - Bdim - Am - D | Introduces a sense of imminent danger or foreboding, using the diminished chord to heighten tension. |
| Am | Am - Ddim - E - Am | Traverses a path of mystery and suspense, with the diminished chord adding a twist of uncertainty. |
Modal Mixture for Emotional Depth
| Key | Progression | Description/Style |
|---|
| Cm | Cm - Fm - Gm - Ab | Explores darker modal mixtures, conveying a complex emotional landscape. |
| Gm | Gm - Cm - Dm - Eb | Delivers a melancholic narrative, enriched by modal interchange for a poignant effect. |
Chromatic Movements for Tension
| Key | Progression | Description/Style |
|---|
| Am | Am - A#dim - Bm - E | Utilizes chromatic movement to create an eerie, unsettling mood. |
| Em | Em - F# - G - G#dim | Progresses through a slightly uneasy, anticipatory sequence, climaxing in a dark resolve. |
Cm Em Ebm Abm Am Gbm F G
e|-3-------0-------6-------4-------0-------2-------1-------3-|
B|-4-------0-------7-------4-------1-------2-------1-------3-|
G|-5-------0-------8-------4-------2-------2-------2-------0-|
D|-5-------2-------8-------6-------2-------4-------3-------0-|
A|-3-------2-------6-------6-------0-------4-------3-------2-|
E|---------0-------6-------4----------------2-------1-------3-|
Bar Open Bar Bar Open Bar Bar Open
D Bdim Ddim Fm Gm Ab Bm E
e|-2-------x-------x-------1-------3-------4-------2-------0-|
B|-3-------x-------x-------1-------3-------4-------3-------0-|
G|-2-------3-------1-------1-------3-------5-------4-------1-|
D|-0-------4-------1-------1-------5-------6-------4-------2-|
A|---------x-------x-------3-------5-------6-------2-------2-|
E|---------x-------x---------------3-------4-----------------|
Open Open Open Bar Bar Bar Bar Open
F# G#dim
e|-2-------4-|
B|-2-------4-|
G|-3-------5-|
D|-4-------5-|
A|-4-------x-|
E|-2-------x-|
Bar Bar
Last updated on 10 Feb 2024
Published on 10 Feb 2024