Talk:Omnibus progression

Chord structure

Clarifications needed: What is meant by "structure"? What do the components of the diagram mean? User:Hyacinth 16:52, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

In this case, the "structure" is a "chord". A "chord" is created by two or more simultaneous pitches. Each "chord" has its own set of pitches (e.g. C Major always has the notes C, E, and G) that can be arranged in different ways to create a "structure". I recommend ensuring you understand how to chords are created before you try to understand the "omnibus".

There are two diagrams I see on the page, both notated music. The notated music tells you which pitches to sound and for what length of time. The pitches correspond to note names and in this case they "spell" chords by specifying a "pitch set" to sound.

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.43.19.188 (talk) 14:57, 23 February 2009

Omnibus?

Why is this progression called "omnibus"? Hyacinth 16:52, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

Nobody knows that. The standard works on the topic don't say anything, or the origin is lost in rumours. --Mardhil 01:35, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

Ron Burgundy would approve.Trumpetrep (talk) 03:15, 28 September 2025 (UTC)

Tidied

Tried to tidy up the chord notation, but would be better if somebody could add some proper analysis symbols. 88.104.83.141 (talk) 02:45, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

German +6 spellings, or tritone sub, or alt chords as substitutes for said functions.

Classical notation can give examples of an enharmonically spelled aug6. Db minor: Spell a V7 as a Gr+6 in C minor & resolve to i6 in cm. Then V42/N to V7/bVII in c minor, spelled as Gr+6 in a minor. repeat...

Other examples for modern music can substitute sub-V / alt chords... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ormaaj (talk • contribs) 13:57, 31 March 2008

Text says C minor but graphic shows C major

I'm not an expert so I don't know which is correct, but there is a disparity here that somebody should fix. --Kupopo (talk) 21:09, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

I agree, I noticed the same thing. Is the picture missing Eb, or is the example in C major? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tc18021188 (talk • contribs) 15:16, 19 October 2008 (UTC)

Missing most common type

Omnibus progressions take two forms. The one listed in the long example at the top of the page is the less frequent version of the omnibus. A different version (which features a chromatic voice-exchange between the root and the third of a V7 chord) is more frequently used in compositions. In a few weeks, I'll try to add the appropriate information with sources. — Devin.chaloux (chat) 02:43, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Malpractice

A passage like this is malpractice:

Modern theorists such as Telesco explain how small sections of omnibus progression (signified in example 1 by brackets around groups of chords) can be viewed as an instance of dominant prolongation achieved through voice exchange. Example 2 (above) is effectively a prolongation of the dominant seventh chord G7 which utilises chromatic voice movement. The bass voice descends chromatically while the upper voice ascends chromatically, and the inner voices remain stationary on the notes of D and F. Eventually the chromatic movement results in a new inversion of the dominant seventh chord G7, resolving to the tonic chord C.

It has no footnotes. It adopts the tone of academia by invoking a scholar's last name, but that scholar has not been introduced. Nor is that scholar relevant to the article in a way where they need to be referred to by name.

Music theory articles seem to attract this kind of prose. Editors write up a kind of fan fiction version of a music theory lecture and post it in an article. The prose comes off like Ron Burgundy holding court at a scenic overlook of San Diego.

I'm not sure this article even belongs on Wikipedia. It is about a very minor subject, and it is badly written. The general reader, which is our audience, will not find this article illuminating in its current shape. My first instinct was to nominate it for deletion, but editors rarely agree with my nominations. Trumpetrep (talk) 01:58, 29 September 2025 (UTC)