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E♭Major, A Chromatic Chord in the Key of C Major (Example of a Chromatic Chord Progression)
Why not call the progression C – E♭ a third progression instead of a chromatic progression? After all, the root moves three semitones, just like the chord progression C – Am, a third progression.
Because in harmony, all three of the notes that make up each triad must belong to the diatonic scale of the prevailing key. Otherwise, there’s no tone/overtone acoustic resonance. Your brain simply does not recognize the chord as belonging to the prevailing key. The chord E♭ is therefore chromatic.
The chord E♭ major consists of the notes E♭, G, and B♭. If the prevailing key is C major, your brain does not recognize the chord E♭ major, with its chromatic notes E♭ and B♭, as belonging to the prevailing key
Since chromatic chords have roots outside of the key’s scale notes, harmonic movement “up”or “down” (such as a “fifth up” or a “third down”) does not apply to chromatic chords. Instead, chromatic chord movement is defined as:
- Exiting the prevailing key when the progression moves from a chord within the key to a chromatic chord, and
- Returning to the prevailing key when the progression moves from the chromatic chord back to the key.