In Bluegrass and other forms of music sometimes the important progression is just the I vim part, as in “Billy in the Lowground” (588KB) which has the form of:

I I vim vim
I I vim (V7 I)
I I vim vim
I I vim (V7 I)
I I IV IV
I I vim (V7 I)
I I IV IV
I I vim (V7 I)

I have also included a Flash 6 version of "Billy in the Lowground". Right-Click (PC) or Control Click (Mac) on the image when it comes up, and select "play" to start the sound. Select "Rewind" then "Play" to hear the song again. Select "Loop" to play the song repeatedly.

The key of C will work over all the changes in this song. I also have heard "Billy in the Lowground" played where the IV chords in the "B" part are substituted with vim chords (more on vim substituting for IV later).

Here is a comparison of an Irish tune “Teetotaler’s Reel” (604KB) and it’s Bluegrass cousin (relative?) “Temperance Reel” (624KB) , using minor chords in the Aeolian mode. Note that even after crossing the ocean, the tune deals with giving up drinking. I have also included Flash 6 versions of "Teetotaler's Reel" and "Temperance Reel". Right-Click (PC) or Control Click (Mac) on the image when it comes up, and select "play" to start the sound. Select "Rewind" then "Play" to hear the song again. Select "Loop" to play the song repeatedly. Both tunes use the same chord progression:

A part:
I I vim V
I I vim (V I)
I I vim V
I I vim (V I)

B part:
vim vim V V
vim vim vim (V I)
vim vim V V
vim vim vim (V I)

The vim to V change in the "B" part is pretty unique. We will see a fuller version of this progression when we get into special chord progressions later.

A quick, almost subliminal switch to Em from G in “Katy Hill” (300KB) makes the tune sparkle (A similar thing is done in “Cumberland Gap”):

I I I (I vim)
I I V I
I I I (I vim)
I I V I

Since it is in Aeolian mode in the key of G, you can play a G scale over all of “Katy Hill.” I have also included a Flash 6 version of "Katy Hill". Right-Click (PC) or Control Click (Mac) on the image when it comes up, and select "play" to start the sound. Select "Rewind" then "Play" to hear the song again. Select "Loop" to play the song repeatedly.

Remember our discussion of “Lonesome Road Blues” by Bill Monroe? The progression was:

I I I I
IV IV I I
IV IV I I
V V I I

If we substitute vi minor for all the IVs, we get:

I I I I
vim vim I I
vim vim I I
V V I I

Which are the chords to “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” (236KB) !!
This is another use of the vim chord -- to substitute for the IV chord, although this is rare. I have also included a Flash 6 version of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". Right-Click (PC) or Control Click (Mac) on the image when it comes up, and select "play" to start the sound. Select "Rewind" then "Play" to hear the song again. Select "Loop" to play the song repeatedly.

Now that we’ve seen how the vi minor chord can spice up tunes, we’ll explore the ii minor and the iii minor chord in our next installment.

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