Exploring Musically Complex Chord Progressions in Music

Music is a fascinating medium, with complex chord progressions playing a significant role in defining the emotional impact and structure of a piece. These progressions often extend beyond traditional harmonic structures, moving listeners through unexpected and disorienting territories, thus pushing the boundaries of tonality and harmony. Let's delve into some examples that showcase the intricate and enthralling nature of these progressions.

Challenging Traditional Harmony and Tonality

The complexity of these chord changes often creates a unsettling, disorienting, or unexpected feel, pushing the boundaries of traditional harmony and tonality. This complexity adds depth and intrigue to songs and pieces, making them stand out in the vast landscape of musical compositions.

Examples of Highly Complex Chord Progressions

Let's explore some celebrated examples of highly complex chord progressions.

Maurice Ravel's 'Daphnis and Chloé'

Maurice Ravel's 'Daphnis and Chloé' offers a mouthful of wonderfully intricate and complex chord progressions. The piece comprises numerous harmonic elements that challenge the conventional flow of a composition. This ambitious and avant-garde orchestral suite for ballet stands out with its innovative and layered harmonies.

Alexander Scriabin's Piano Sonatas

Alexander Scriabin is renowned for his exploration of the complex chord progressions in his ten piano sonatas. His compositions are characterized by a highly personal and experimental approach to tonality and harmony, making them extraordinarily challenging and captivating for pianists to perform.

Jazz Classics

For those in the jazz world, 'Giant Steps' by John Coltrane, 'Jordu' by Duke Jordan, 'Joyspring' by Clifford Brown, and 'Bluesette' by Toots Thieleman are benchmarks. Each piece features elaborate and intricate chord structures that require a high degree of musical proficiency and creativity from the performers.

Paul Simon's 'American Tune'

Although the chords in 'American Tune' by Paul Simon are not the most complex, the progression itself is a tour de force that showcases the creative potential of more accessible chord structures. This track highlights how even within simpler harmonies, complex progressions can be crafted to produce a profound impact.

Masser's 'Do You Know Where You're Going To'

Mike Masser's 'Do You Know Where You're Going To' is a delightful example of complex chord progressions. The composition follows a journey through several keys, making it both fun to play and listen to. The song begins in G flat Major, modulates to its main key of E flat major, then returns through its relative minor's parallel major before concluding with a tierce de Picardie on a beautiful E flat major chord. This piece perfectly exemplifies the intricate play of tonal elements.

The Grateful Dead's 'Unbroken Chain'

The Grateful Dead's 'Unbroken Chain' is a superb example of a song with diverse and complex chord progressions. Each of the seven verses features a unique progression that does not repeat, making it a challenging and engaging piece to both perform and listen to. Here's a chart of the chords:

Intro: F2 F2 Fadd2 C C C C/E-C/D C6-C/B Am Am G G
F2 F2 Fadd2 C Am7 C C/E-EmD Am/C-Am/B Am Am G7 ..fe dcba cbag fede V1: Am C Dm7 F F2 C Am Eb F Em G / V2: Am C Dm7 Bb2 F2 Am C G/B Am G F Em G V3: Am C Dm7 F F2 C F G F Em G / V4: Am C Dm7 Bb2 F2 Am C G/B Am G F / Am / Interlude: G b b C c Bb2 bb f F a f x4 V5: F Am C Dm7 F F2 C Dm7 Cmaj7 F Em G / V6: Am C Dm7 Bb2 F2 Am C G/B Am G Whole Notes for Chords: F Em Dm C-Dm Break: f g . f g . f g . f g c Bb . g c Bb g Bb . g fg x4 V7: Cm7 Fmaj7 Dm7 Em3/8 G / x5 Outro: Half note per chord
G / A7b9 C D9 / Dmaj95 Dmaj7 D69 / Cmaj9/D D
D7 G4-Bm Em C Em Bm G A Em

Conclusion

The examples discussed here represent a spectrum of musical complexity, from orchestral excellence to jazz innovation and beyond. Each piece offers a unique opportunity to explore the vast and intricate realm of chord progressions, providing both performers and listeners with a rich and rewarding experience. So, whether you're a composer, a musician, or simply a music enthusiast, the world of complex chord progressions is an ever-expanding universe waiting to be explored.