Chord progression for Em?

[Redwolf]

I'm trying to arrange a simple tune for the harp, and I must admit, I'm drawing a blank...what is the usual chord progression in a minor key? (I'm figuring that someone here must have more music theory than I have).

Redwolf the theory-challenged harper

[MTGuru]

Nah, there's no usual. i-iv-v is Em-Am-Bm. But the v could mutate to Major V, i.e. B or B7. Dorian would tend to be i-bVII (flat 7), or Em-DMajor, with the bVII as the Dominant.

What's the tune? Can you post an ABC or sample?

[Redwolf]

The tune is "Mo Ghrása, Mo Dhia," and it may very well be modal. If I have time tomorrow or over the weekend, I could record the melody line.

Redwolf

[s1m0n]

Work out triads using the notes of that tune's scale starting on I, IV & V, and don't worry about what they're called.

[Innocent Bystander]

If it was on guitar it would (most obviously) be Em, Am, Bb I think - not having my guitar to hand. (As Simon Says, I,IV & V). But depending on the tune you could shift those chords to 7th, or Diminished. It takes a while to work out, and it is a personal thing.

[MTGuru]

I could find only the A part of the melody online, but here's more or less one way I'd handle it. It's definitely not straight I-IV-V.

X:1
T:Mo ghrása, mo Dhía
M:3/4
K:EDor
"Em"G4 EF|G4 GA|"G"B2 B3 B|"D"A4 B2|
"Em"e4 BA|"G"G3E F2|"Am"E6|"Bm"D4 EF||
"Em"G4 EF|G4 GA|"G"B2 B3 B|"D"A4 B2|
"Em"e4 BA|"C"G3E "D/B"F2|"Em"E6|E6|]

That "D/B" is a D chord over a B in the bass - which equals a Bm7. Or just use a D or Bm chord.

[BrassBlower]

I think MTGuru is right. ITM tunes in Em often also contain a D major chord.

e.g. the chord progression to the "A" part of Morrison's Jig: Em / / D Em / G D Em / / D G D G D...

[Redwolf]

Work out triads using the notes of that tune's scale starting on I, IV & V, and don't worry about what they're called.

I'd tried that already, I'm afraid.

MTGuru, I'm afraid I don't read ABC. Am I correct in assuming that the vertical lines are measure lines, and the bits in quotation marks the chords?

I seem to remember a site a while back that allowed you to plug in ABC and here the tune as an MP3 (or view it in standard notation)...does anyone know if that site still exists.

I usually don't have any trouble working out basic chords for something like this, but this tune is about to drive me batty!

Redwolf

[fearfaoin]

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

Cut and paste MT's post starting at "X: 1" and hit Submit.
This will give you the sheetmusic as a crappy GIF image.
Then click on "[PDF Sheet Music]" to get a nice PDF
or "[MIDI music file]" to hear a MIDI.

[Redwolf]

Thanks! That's done it!

That is the whole tune, btw...there really isn't a "B" part, per se (unless you consider the last 8 bars, with their subtle variation, to be a "B" part). It's an old Irish hymn tune.

I've got a line on a couple of church gigs, and I'm trying to work a bit more non-Christmas religious stuff into my repertoire. We sing this at the Irish language mass every year, and in the Cór Ainglí Irish choir, so I thought it would be a good addition...one that's less familiar, perhaps, to non-Irish congregations. This is also a good key for me to sing in, so I figure I can throw that into the mix as well.

Redwolf

[Caroluna]

Am I the only one who thought this was a thread about Emmline?
I thought "How nice to write her her very own chord progression!" ...

[MTGuru]

Thanks! That's done it!

That is the whole tune, btw

Oh, cool. There you go.

Am I the only one who thought this was a thread about Emmline?
I thought "How nice to write her her very own chord progression!" ...

She only has to ask, you know ...

[izzarina]

Am I the only one who thought this was a thread about Emmline?
I thought "How nice to write her her very own chord progression!" ...

HA! I knew I couldn't possibly be the ONLY one who thought that!

[emmline]

(just got back from long driving trip. current chord progression should evoke heavy rain, interstates, and poor visibility.)