To create a new, contrasting section, the progression should vary in some significant way. A good way to achieve this is to use a different starting chord – preferably, one that belongs to a different chord category (tonic, predominant, dominant). If the first section uses the progression I-vi-IV-V, an effective contrasting section might begin with the IV chord.

A sense of contrast can be achieved simply by rearranging the chords of the initial progression. However, the new section will sound different to the degree that it uses new chords. For example, the progression iii-vi-ii-V will carry a much different mood from our first section than the progression IV-I-vi-V.