Hey music makers!
Over the past three weeks, you've learned to think in root motion patterns instead of just memorizing chord sequences.
But here's what I keep hearing: "This is awesome, but how do I actually use it to write my own progressions?"
Today we're crossing that bridge.
REAL SONGS. REAL PROGRESSIONS
💿 "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars
Key: C major
Progression: Am - C - Dm - G - G7 - C - Em/B
Root Motion: A up to C (up minor 3rd), C up to D (up major 2nd), D down to G (down 5th), G down to C (down 5th), C down to B (down minor 2nd)
Why it works: That opening Am-C leap creates immediate emotional lift from vulnerable minor to hopeful major.
The stepwise C-D movement adds gentle momentum, then we hit two powerful circle-of-fifths moves (D→G→C) that create unstoppable harmonic pull.
The final Em/B creates a questioning end that draws us back to start the cycle again.
The bass line tells the story: Notice how the root motion creates a melodic bass line that supports the emotional arc: some lift, gentle movement, then a strong gravitational pull back home.
🧠 Term of the Week: Progression Templates
What it is: Root motion patterns that work as emotional blueprints across different keys and chord qualities.
Instead of memorizing "Am-C-Dm-G-G7-C-Em/B," you learn the template: "vi chord, up minor 3rd, up major 2nd, down 5th, down 5th, down minor 2nd."
This reveals the architectural foundation underneath the surface chords. Root motion is like the skeleton that gives songs their structural strength and emotional direction.
Now you can apply this emotional blueprint anywhere:
Key of G: Em - G - Am - D - D7 - G - Am/E
Key of F: Dm - F - Gm - C - C7 - F - Gm/D
🎯 Challenge for the Week
Create your own progression template and experiment with three versions:
Template Example: Up 4th, down minor 3rd, down 5th
Root Motion: C up to F (up 4th), F down to D (down minor 3rd), D down to G (down 5th)
Version 1: Basic triads (all major): C - F - D - G
Version 2: Add 7ths - Cmaj7 - Fmaj7 - D7 - G7
Version 3: Mixed qualities - C - Fm - Dm7 - G7
Document your discoveries: Which version creates the emotion you want?
How do different chord qualities enhance or fight against the root motion's natural pull? I intentionally included a progression here that doesn’t sound that good to me.
Now, once you start thinking in templates, you need a place to store them.
I recently created a tool for this exact purpose, the Harmony OS dashboard.
It captures these discoveries, organizes template libraries, and tracks your creative growth systematically.
I'll share more details on this tool in upcoming emails
✉️ That’s a wrap
This concludes our 3 part root motion series. I hope you enjoyed this series.
See you next week,
