Cycle of 5ths

- So far, all the songs we've been playing…have been 12-bar blues, either major or minor,…with a V-IV-I chord progression in the last four bars.…This is by far the most common blues progression,…but there are many variations on that theme.…A lot of these variations are derived…from what we call cycle of fifths harmony.…Now, if you have the book that accompanies this video,…you can review cycle of fifths harmony in chapter one,…but just like we did with our simplest blues progression,…we'll describe the new harmonies…by using Roman numerals.…

The cycle of fifths progression…most commonly added to 12-bar blues…is II-V-I or VI-II-V-I.…Let's take a look at how these chords…will fit into the last several bars…of a slow blues, like the Allman Brothers' famous version…of the classic, "Stormy Monday."…Here's a diagram of a 12-bar blues in G…with a quick four and a typical V-IV-I ending.…Let's substitute a II-V-I progression…in place of the V-IV-I here in the last four bars.…

If we remember diatonic harmony,…we know that the II chord in a key is minor.…