1. Theoretical Foundation & Acoustic Motion
Voice leading and tension-resolution mechanics
Ambient cinematic formula (i - III - VII - iv). Shifting to the relative major, then through G to the minor subdominant, conjures vast cosmic expanses and contemplative wonder.
Listen to Cosmic Yearning & Mystery twice through
- Am
- C
- G
- Dm
- Am
- C
- G
- Dm
2. The progression, step by step
| Position | Chord | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Am | i |
| 2 | C | III |
| 3 | G | VII |
| 4 | Dm | iv |
3. Chord tones and interval structure
| Chord | Chord tones | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Am | A – C – E | 1 - ♭3 - 5 |
| C | C – E – G | 1 - 3 - 5 |
| G | G – B – D | 1 - 3 - 5 |
| Dm | D – F – A | 1 - ♭3 - 5 |
Check it with your ear
Two short questions to solidify what you've just read. There's no grade or record, so if you get it wrong, you can listen again and try again.
Which chord does Cosmic Yearning & Mystery start on and settle into?
Listen to both orders. Which one is the progression on this page?
Try it on your guitar
Play , , and with four beats per chord, slowly at first and then close to 72 BPM. Once you can play it without stopping, sing one long note over every chord and hear how its color changes even though you do not move it.
Acoustic Chords:
What you can check on the guitar
This reading uses Am, C, G and Dm, the progression CifraLab proposes for a “Cosmic Yearning & Mystery” feel. What follows can be checked by playing.
From Am to C, C and E stay, and two hand positions stay put. C and G share G, though the hand changes shape. From G to Dm, D stays, but no fretted position repeats. Dm and Am keep A in common. Also, one hand position stays put.
“Cosmic Yearning & Mystery” runs at 72 beats per minute, so each beat lasts 833 milliseconds. If each chord takes one bar of four beats, the full cycle lasts 13.3 seconds. Read in A minor, its degrees are i, III, VII and iv.
In Am you hear A, C and E. C holds C, E and G. In G you hear G, B and D. Dm holds D, F and A.