Musical Chords: A Novel Java Algorithm and App Utility to Enumerate Chord-Progressions Adhering to Music Theory Guidelines

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Java-based algorithm and app that generate all possible four- and eight-chord progressions adhering to music theory, aiding musicians in creative composition and overcoming limitations of existing tools.

Contribution

It presents a novel algorithm and app that enumerate all valid four- and eight-chord progressions based on music theory, expanding creative options for musicians.

Findings

Enumerates 3,297 four-chord progressions and 405,216 eight-chord progressions.

Provides a user interface with three variation options for each progression.

Distinguishes between major and minor chord progressions in the generated sets.

Abstract

A song's backbone is its chord progressions, a series of chords that improve the harmony and add to the overall composition. For individuals ranging from beginners to creative artists, comprehending and implementing music theory grammar for their own compositions can stifle the music creation process and cause song-writer's block. The existing Chord Progression approaches in the marketplace are limited on producing only pre-selected progressions and often fail to conform to music theory guidelines or provide APIs for other musicians to build on. Because four-chord and eight-chord progressions are yet to be enumerated, Machine learning use-cases that train on chord progressions are limited, and mobile applications don't provide users with unique or unexplored progressions. To address these limitations, a novel Java Algorithm and automated music theory chord progression and variations generator App has been developed. This App offers a piano user interface, that applies music theory to generate all possible four-chord and eight-chord progressions and produces three alternate variations of the generated progressions selected by the user. The Algorithm elucidates 3,297 Total 4-Chord Progressions and 405,216 Total 8-Chord Progressions. Within the 4-Chord Progression pool, there are 1,533 Major 4-chord Progressions and 1,764 Minor 4-Chord Progressions. Within the 8-chord Progression pool, there are 182,094 Major Progressions and 223,122 Minor Progressions. This innovative approach provides musicians with a comprehensive and customizable tool for their music creation, allowing them to develop their signature sounds.