Dtjytyk

I'm wondering if chords usually move down by fifths. It seems so by the diagram, so iii to vi, vi to ii, ii to V, V to I. etc. Other chords can also be thought of like that, because IV/ii and V/vii are often interchangeable. So IV -> V can be thought of as ii -> V.

Is that the most typical movement of a chord progression?

See 4:55 in the video below. This is one of many teachers explaining this flow. I've seen this flow myself in plenty of songs I've played.

Do chord progressions usually move by fifths?

No.

I think you are overlooking an important part of that flow chart: the curved arrow to the right of I means "the tonic chord can move to any other chord."

So, that results in a super common progression I ii6.

The rest of the flow chart does display descending fifth progressions with some options variations like IV ii and vii0 V.

Of course IV V is absolutely essential to functional harmony and that is root progression by step.

Step-wise movement of 1st inversion chords is completely missing from the flow chart.

Keep in mind that a lot of harmony by descending/ascending fifth will occur as sequential harmony. In terms of phrasing and structure in common practice those sequential passages don't just happen anywhere. There are structural conventions to consider.

Anyway, IV V, I ii6, and V vi are so super common that we really can't say progression by fifths is the usual movement.

The flow chart isn't "wrong" but it leaves out a lot of important information about formal structure and harmonic conventions in common practice music.

There are two melodic clauses - probably the most usual:

1. soso lati dododo (and its minor relative: mi fi si la




2. sofa mire do ... ( miredoti la)

Both are leading a fourth up or fifth down.

also the usual bass-line that goes do re mi do, fa so la fa or so la ti so, do re mi do etc.

They are developed by counterpoint as well they are basic for harmonic progressions! (Since Baroque - if not even Gregorian chant - till many popsongs and walking bass in jazz.

Btw.: this question is related to another that has been asked recently about the circle of fifths which is actually a circle of fourths.

Another reason is: that dominant and secondary dominant chords have two tones in common.

The other most usual progression is IV-V. We wonder that here are no common tones. A possible answer/explanation could be: The progression IV-V is actually a whole turn round skipping the whole circle. (That’s what I read in my first theory book that I held in my hand with 17 years.)

No. It's not ALL about 'the circle of 5ths'. You really need to let this one go!

The teacher in that video is stating 'rules' that just don't exist. (I think she's obsessed with the 'circle' too :-) )