How to Add Tension and Interest to Your Music: Using Passing Chords in 'Georgia on My Mind'

When it comes to creating music, one of the most important elements is harmony. A well-crafted chord progression can make all the difference in making your song stand out from the crowd. In this article, we'll be exploring how to add tension and interest to your music by using passing chords in the classic tune 'Georgia on My Mind'.

One way to create more harmonic impact is by using upper structure triads to create more tension and strengthen the sense of resolution for each chord change. This can be particularly effective when used with half-step chromatic approach chords between each chord change.

Passing chords are a great way to add some extra flair to your music, and 'Georgia on My Mind' is no exception. In fact, the A Section of this tune contains 2 back-to-back 3625 progressions with the chord changes on the half beat and the melody on the quarter beat. This creates a beautiful harmonic and melodic situation that's ripe for some passing chords.

So, what chords does Tony Rice play in 'Georgia on My Mind'? The answer is D maj, B min, B min7, and A 7. But what if we wanted to add a little more tension to the mix? We could try playing an Eb7 chord, which would create a sense of resolution before moving back to the D-.

In fact, this progression - E-7b5 to A7 to Eb7 to D- is a great example of how passing chords can be used to add interest and variety to your music. By using these chords in place of the standard chord changes, you can create a sense of tension and release that will keep your listeners engaged.

But what about approaching V7 chords with the related ii-7 chord? This is another way to add some extra harmonic color to your music. In the case of 'Georgia on My Mind', we could approach the A7 chord with an E-7b5 chord, creating a full 251 progression.

So, where can we use passing chords in 'Georgia on My Mind'? One place to start is in the second bar of the tune, where we have an A7 chord for the entire bar moving to D- in bar 3. By adding a passing chord before this change, we can create a sense of tension and release that will add some extra interest to the music.

Of course, passing chords aren't the only way to add variety to your music. You could also try using different rhythmic patterns or melodies to keep things interesting. But by incorporating passing chords into your playing, you'll be able to create a richer, more complex sound that will set you apart from other musicians.

In this lesson, we've explored the concept of passing chords and how they can be used to add tension and interest to our music. We've also looked at some specific examples of how to use passing chords in 'Georgia on My Mind', including the chord progression E-7b5 to A7 to Eb7 to D-. By incorporating these techniques into your own playing, you'll be able to create a more dynamic and engaging sound that will keep your listeners coming back for more.

Georgia on my mind chord progression