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Fifth Progressions: Chord Changes Reading Forward vs Backward
Pitch is the “height” dimension of sound, so “up” and “down” make sense. Harmony is the “depth” and “color” dimension of sound, so using the terms “up” and “down” do not make sense. However, we’re stuck with the “up” and “down” nomenclature with respect to chord progressions, even though it’s completely misleading.
If you get confused about how chord progressions are named, just remember that “up” in chord progression terms means counting forward from the first chord-root name to the next one, and “down” means counting backward from the first chordroot name to the next one. (Nothing whatsoever to do with “up” in pitch or “down” in pitch.) Here are a few examples:
Count the fifth up, A – E , by reading forward: A > B > C > D > E
Count the fifth down, E – A , by reading backward: A < B < C < D < E
Count the fifth up, D – A , by reading forward: D > E > F > G > A
Count the fifth down, A – D, by reading backward: D < E < F < G < A