Circle Progressions

printed from www.musictheory.net

Root motion is the movement from one chord's root to another chord's root.
To demonstrate root motion, we will use a I and a vi chord in C Major.

The root of the I chord (a C major triad) is C.

The root of the vi chord (an A minor triad) is A.

Therefore, the root motion between I and vi (C to A) is down a third.

Due to interval inversion, the root motion could also be classified as up a sixth.
Let's try another example: a IV chord going to V.

The root of the first chord (an F major triad) is F.

The root of the second chord (a G major triad) is G.

Therefore, the root motion of these two chords is up a second or down a seventh.

Let's try another example: a I chord in first inversion going to a root position V.

The root of the first chord (an C major triad) is C. Since the chord is inverted, the root is not the lowest note.
The root of the second chord is G.

The root motion of these two chords is down a fourth or up a fifth.

A circle progression occurs when root motion is equal to up a fourth or down a fifth.
Both I→IV and ii→V are circle progressions.
iii→vi and IV→vii o are also circle progressions.

Let's work out all possible circle progressions for a major scale, starting at I.

I progresses to IV.
IV progresses to vii o .

vii o progresses to iii.

iii progresses to vi.

vi progresses to ii.

ii progresses to V.

V progresses to I.

The major scale circle progressions are: I→IV→vii o →iii→vi→ii→V→I.

Next, we will work out all possible circle progressions for a minor scale.

i progresses to iv.

iv progresses to VII (not vii o ).

VII progresses to III.

III progresses to VI.

VI progresses to ii o .
ii o progresses to V (not v).

V progresses to i.

The minor scale circle progressions are: i→iv→VII→III→VI→ii o →V→i.

This chart displays the circle progressions for both major and minor scales.
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