What makes music progressive? The keys?

Was pondering this. What makes music progressive in nature? Are they the keyboards or is it something else? For me it's the keyboards! And can bands be progressive in style without keyboards?

Wargod49

How I understand it is progressive music normally has complex arrangements, time changes, etc. Thus making the music "progress" from the usual 4/4 beat and verse, chorus, verse formula. The keyboards aren't necessarily a needed component, but is usually a part of most progressive bands.

It has nothing to do with keys.

It's in the progressions/arrangement.

spectrefate wrote:

How I understand it is progressive music normally has complex arrangements, time changes, etc. Thus making the music "progress" from the usual 4/4 beat and verse, chorus, verse formula. The keyboards aren't necessarily a needed component, but is usually a part of most progressive bands.

That`s how I understand it too.
My hometown heroes Communic are labeled progressive, but use very little keyboard..

Temple of Blood wrote:

It has nothing to do with keys.

It's in the progressions/arrangement.

Agreed.

i.e. And Justice For All and Rust in Peace off the top of my head.

I wouldn't personally say Rust In Peace is progressive, though it certainly has a few progressive tendencies.

But yes, I would strongly disagree with the keys being the defining element of prog. It's all in the progressions and arrangements, as stated before.

See this is what I want to know in my understanding I always thought the keys were the major elements for progressive music!

Wargod48

I agree with Specs idea of progressive.I never looked at it as being the keys as much as its the arrangements and song structure.

xyz wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

It has nothing to do with keys.

It's in the progressions/arrangement.

Agreed.

i.e. And Justice For All and Rust in Peace off the top of my head.

I agree. It has nothing to do with keys. It's the weird time sig changes, arrangements, chord progressions, etc.

I also think that for whatever reason, a lot of bands that engage in this style of songwriting and execution seem to feature prominent keyboards.

Keys aren't needed to be progressive. Progressive to me is the styles incorporated into the music. There are different elements that just make it one style. It's more music oriented and uses lots of variations of styles.

Olafsto wrote:

spectrefate wrote:

How I understand it is progressive music normally has complex arrangements, time changes, etc. Thus making the music "progress" from the usual 4/4 beat and verse, chorus, verse formula. The keyboards aren't necessarily a needed component, but is usually a part of most progressive bands.

That`s how I understand it too.
My hometown heroes Communic are labeled progressive, but use very little keyboard..

Also think there's something with melodies and hooks being somewhat "hidden" in the music, rather than ultimately catchy.

what spec said, I always counted it as music outside the normal boundary of 4/4 time sig music, different keys etc. usually a band that uses a lot of musical theory in their writing but, not always.

A lot of Prog Metal / Prog Rock really is in 4/4 time signatures, they just syncopate it...meaning instead of kick & snare on 1 & 2, it'll be on 1 & 3 or something...

But yeah, keys don't make something Prog...complex arrangements, blending of styles & elements, use of different time signatures/tempos within a song...

AngelRipper16 wrote:

Olafsto wrote:

spectrefate wrote:

How I understand it is progressive music normally has complex arrangements, time changes, etc. Thus making the music "progress" from the usual 4/4 beat and verse, chorus, verse formula. The keyboards aren't necessarily a needed component, but is usually a part of most progressive bands.

That`s how I understand it too.
My hometown heroes Communic are labeled progressive, but use very little keyboard..

Also think there's something with melodies and hooks being somewhat "hidden" in the music, rather than ultimately catchy.

there are tons of prog bands that have killer hooks and superior catchiness to more modern bands and more mainstream bands. But being prog and more music oriented the mainstream seems to overlook the great style of music..

As mentioned, ....AJFA is a prog metal album with no keys. Even Maiden's last album, AMOFAD was proggy in nature. Master Of Puppets was leaning towards progressive. It just so happens that most prog bands have a keyboard player.

spectrefate wrote:

How I understand it is progressive music normally has complex arrangements, time changes, etc. Thus making the music "progress" from the usual 4/4 beat and verse, chorus, verse formula. The keyboards aren't necessarily a needed component, but is usually a part of most progressive bands.

This is right on the money IMO, I could not have given a better explaination.

manny wrote:

spectrefate wrote:

How I understand it is progressive music normally has complex arrangements, time changes, etc. Thus making the music "progress" from the usual 4/4 beat and verse, chorus, verse formula. The keyboards aren't necessarily a needed component, but is usually a part of most progressive bands.

This is right on the money IMO, I could not have given a better explaination.

seconded

Maybe keys are featured so prominently because of all the capability that they have? You can add many layers and textures with keys, and I'd say that it can add a new spectrum to the music.

Wargod48 wrote:

Was pondering this. What makes music progressive in nature? Are they the keyboards or is it something else? For me it's the keyboards! And can bands be progressive in style without keyboards?

Wargod49

Listen to Zero Hour.



No keyboards. Clearly progressive.

spectrefate wrote:

How I understand it is progressive music normally has complex arrangements, time changes, etc. Thus making the music "progress" from the usual 4/4 beat and verse, chorus, verse formula. The keyboards aren't necessarily a needed component, but is usually a part of most progressive bands.

Good definition.