chord progression in relation to modes

[attaboy_jhb]

Does anybody know if you can you build chord progressions starting on the "ii" or "iii" chords of a major scale without necessarily using a mode? so say you have this progression

Am, Em, D, Em

Since these chords are part of Gmajor/E minor does this mean the song will be in A Dorian mode?? or can it still be in regular Gmaj/Emin and if so , how do you tell the difference? would it be the melody of the song that defines that in this case??

thanks for the help!! great forum!

[DesiSerna]

It all depends on which chord is functioning as the root. And this is not always the first chord. For example, "Sweet Home Alabama" starts on D but the root is really G. In your example it's possible to create an Em chord progression that starts on Am. You just have to arrange it so that everything leads to and resolves on Em.

[attaboy_jhb]

GReat thanks!