Let me start by showing you which chords correspond to each key of a major scale:

1 tone – Major

2 tones – minor

3 tones – minor

4 tones – Major

5 tones – Major (dominant)

6 tones – minor

7 tones – Medium diminished

To understand the table above, you need to understand that each key in a major scale has an accompanying chord. For example, the following is a C major scale:

(C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C)

Each tone above has a matching chord. Just add the completions from the table above to the scale as shown below:

C MAJOR

D MINOR

E MINOR

F MAJOR

G MAJOR / DOM

A MINOR OF AGE

B REDUCED BY HALF

To better understand the progressions, let’s number each chord:

1 = C major

2 = D minor

3 = E minor

4 = F major

5 = G dominant

6 = A minor

7 = B half – diminished

8 = C major

Now to create a 2-5-1 chord progression (or any numbered chord progression), simply take chord 2, 5, and 1 out of the entire chord series above. That is, we would not use the chord 3, 4, 6 or 7.

Chord 2 is D minor; the 5 chord is G dominant; and chord 1 is C major.

Here is the most basic 2-5-1 chord progression:

Dmin — Gdom — Cmaj

min = less

dom = dominant

Shift = major

D minor chord = (D) + (F) + (A)

Dominant chord of G = (G) + (B) + (D) + (F)

C major chord = (C) + (E) + (G)

Example: To play a D minor chord, simply play the three notes shown above at the same time (D + F + A)

Progressions are just one way to get the harmony to support the melody. In any key, if your melody sticks to the key you are in:

The I chord will harmonize three notes, the V chord will harmonize two additional notes, and the IV chord will harmonize the remaining two notes. So the I IV V chords will harmonize each note in a given melody as long as it remains in tune.

You can replace chord 2 with chord 4. So now we get 2 5 1. You can expand the chord if you’re sitting for a while and you can play different bass notes to help create movement. That’s where we get the 1 3 6 2 5 1.

Chord 6 and chord 3 complete chord 1. And 7 fills in chord of 5. Chord 6 can also lead to chord 4. This may all seem confusing, but it all starts with chord one, chord 5, and chord 4r.

If you only use these three chords, you can play along with most songs.

When you get more advancement, you can use the 2 5 1 as a short introduction to each new chord you will play. So to enter chord one, play 2 5 and then 1. When you want to go to the chord of four, enter it by playing a 2 5 1 in the key of chord of 4.

So if you were in the key of C and you want to go to F, you enter the F by tapping G min7, C7 and Fmaj (2 5 1)

Now you have it! 2 5 1 are derived from 4 5 1 and over time have become static ornaments and chords to lean on to support the melody. For more educational music resources, visit my website or stop by my blog.