Metaprogressions

Metaprogressions are a concept in music theory that describes a chord progression that describes the movement of other chord progressions. Instead of focusing on the individual chords and their relationships, metaprogressions examine the larger patterns and tendencies of how chord progressions evolve. This can involve analyzing the direction of harmonic movement, the common melodic contours of bass lines within progressions, or the overall emotional arc a progression creates.

The idea is to abstract the process of harmonic change. For example, a common metaprogression might be described as "moving from consonance to dissonance and then back to consonance," regardless of the specific chords used. Another could be a "rising tension" progression, which steadily increases harmonic complexity or intensity before resolving. Composers and theorists may use metaprogressions to understand why certain progressions sound effective or to consciously manipulate the listener's experience over longer musical passages. It offers a higher-level perspective on harmonic function and development, looking beyond immediate voice leading or functional harmony to broader architectural principles.