Isus – I – I2 – I

This progression was made popular in the 70s in Barry Manilow’s song, “Can’t Smile Without You”. In it, the third note of a chord is altered by starting with the suspended 4th, then resolving to the major chord, then changing to a suspended second, and resolving again with the major chord. Try it in the following examples:

Dsus-D-D2-D

Listen to this progression in the key of D:
Audio Player

00:00

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Asus-A-A2-A

Listen to this progression in the key of A:
Audio Player

I – Imaj7 – I6 – Imaj7

Here’s an interesting progression found in a number of songs. Listen to Lee Brice’s song Love Like Crazyto hear it (see Youtube video at the end of this post).

The example in the key of G is G, Gmaj7, G6, Gmaj7 and then repeats:

G-Gmaj7-G6-Gmaj7

Here’s perhaps a better sounding way to play this progression in the key of G:

   G Gmaj7 G6 Gmaj7
e:-3---x---3---x---|
B:-3---3---3---3---|
G:-2---4---0---4---|
D:-5---4---2---4---|
A:-5---x---x---x---|
E:-3---3---3---3---|

Listen to this progression in the key of G:
Audio Player

00:00

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Now try it in the key of D:

D-Dmaj7-D6-Dmaj7

Listen to this progression in the key of D:
Audio Player

00:00

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Listen to what the progression sounds like in Lee Brice’s song here in the key of Bb: