Diatonic Cycles

Generate chord progressions that are derived from a seven-note diatonic scales that cycle through every inversion of each chord. Each cycle moves through the chord progression from a specific intervalllic movement. Keep reading to find out more.

There are two types of diatonic cycle: voiceleading cycles and their counterparts: Reverse cycles.

Voiceleading Cycles

The voiceleading cycles follow strict voiceleading and always move to the nearest possible pitches of the next chord. The complete cycle includes every inversion of each chord.

Reverse Cycles

The reverse-cycles move through the same chord cycle but in the reverse pitch of their 'voiceleading' counterparts, which means they don't always utilise every inversion or even change inversion at all.

An intriguing example to begin exploring the concept of cycles are reverse-cycle-2. Many people will recognise these particular cycles as the 'diatonic' chords of a key moving up in pitch sequentially through the scale.

Reverse cycle 7 is very similar but instead of moving up in pitch from C it moves down in pitch. The 'reverse' button will visualise this option.

The voiceleading-cycle which is the oppsite of the reverse-cycle can be found at this link here.