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6.6.10 Descending Fifth Progressions: Natural Harmonic Motion
In melody, you have two directions home—by ascending through 7 to 1 (8), or by descending through 2 to 1.
But in harmony, as you’ve just seen, you have only one direction home—by descending the circular harmonic scale, by (moving clockwise.
In harmony, your brain senses the descending fifth progression of V – I as “coming home.” Just as, in melody, it senses scale movements of 7 – I (8) and 2 – 1 as “coming home.”
So, it’s necessary to tweak the emerging circular harmonic scale by adding arrows to show clockwise (descending fifth) natural direction of motion (Figure 50 below). At this stage it's still the same as the "circle progression."
FIGURE 50: Emerging Circular Harmonic Scale: One Direction Home
In harmony, when you paddle clockwise, you paddle with the current. When you paddle counterclockwise, you paddle against the current (with one small exception—third progressions—coming up in a while).
Or, you could say that, clockwise, you sail with the wind; counterclockwise, you sail against the wind. You have to mind your sheets, too. In sailing, sheets are lines attached to sail corners that control sail positions relative to the wind. So if three of them are blowin’ in the wind, your boat will not be terribly manoeuvrable. That’s what you get when you knock back too many margaritas ... you sail three sheets to the wind.