A melody is capable of expressing many thoughts all on its own, but, when accompanied with an appropriate chord progression, it’s possible for a melody to transport the listener to an entirely different world. Let’s look at an example to see more about how this can work:
This originally untitled prelude has traditionally called the Suffocation Prelude because of the sense of despair. What’s creating this sense of despair? Would the same effect be possible with any chord progression? Let’s find out.
When arranging, it’s important to consider what story the chord progression is telling. Don’t be afraid to experiment and occasionally break some of the “rules” of functional harmony.