what is your theory when creating progressions

[bass2man]

JohnS:
I dont know if you are looking for something non-standard to write but if you are looking for a formula, why not start by learning how the master songwriters did it?

When I am looking for a new "idea", I flop open the real book to any page and try to figure out the song structure by loking at how the songwriter "two-five-oned" his way through the song...sometimes its pretty straightforward (ii-V-I) in major or minor, sometimes not so i.e ii-V-I or (i) based on relative minor or secondary minor or dom chords, flat five subs of relative major or minor chords, I-i#dim-ii, etc.

tough sledding at first but after a while you notice patterns emerge, i.e.formulas, of getting around different keys...its sometimes easier to work backwards from the dom chords...

You may want to check out Rich Scott's Money Chords book..not really geared to jazz ( althought there is a jazz section) but he goes through the 15 most common chord progressions in music and all the variations...

It is interesting to note that in his book, like Greg Dubs posted here, it is the BASS LINES that create movement in the chord progressions, not the other way around...

[Claudi]

Originally Posted by GuyB

I think also that melody is king. But that does'nt mean that the process of creating a tune has to start with the melody. Inspiration can also come from a good rythm, a bass line, or a chord progression.

You're right, but when you start creating from a chord progression you have to adapt the melody to the chords. On the other hand, if you create first a melody the context of each measure tells you what chords you have to play.

[GuyB]

You are also right Claudi. I posted this because I thought that some posts were suggesting that melody HAD to come first. Might be caused by my (limited) understanding of english.

[Claudi]

Well, this depends on each musician. Although english ain't either my first language I also see in this forum that many forumers wish that chords might rule. Anyway my thought is that each of us has to interprete this his/her own way. To me both are valid. In music I understand that a good melody with a good rhythm is the best choice, but what can I tell to a guitarist that loves more to play chords than melodies? It's his/her choice and if s/he thinks it sounds better this way all the better for him/her.
The most important thing is that each of us are satisfied with the music we play.