So this is resolved?  it is the key of G, and the verse uses the 1,4,5 chords played in a 5,4,1 progression?  In which case the music theory's that Jerome shares  "wwhwwwh"  prove themselves once again!  And Alabama is a sweet place to call home 

Hello, Guitarrock,
The origional hit by Lynard Skynard was played in key of G.
So the verses go: D,C,G.
Don't forget about the whoo hoo hoo part where it goes F,C,D,C,G.
Being from Alabama, we jumped on that song from day one.
"Sweet Home Alabama" replaced "Stars Fell on Alabama" on our car license plates. It is much better to have our state referred to as a "sweet home" rather than an impact area.

Simple math.

Good questions X Good Answers = Learning

Russ, there was nothin' needing to be forgiven. All I was trying to do was get to the logic behind that chord progression. It's gettin' sorta / kinda clear, now, but I still gotta do me some thinkin' 'bout this. What got me curious was the way you had written out the chord progression did not match what I thought I knew.

Nela

That's the reason I was asking', not because I disagreed. How does one determine a chord progression outside a basic 1...4...5 progression? Is it just by sound or some other music theory rule?

Some people, myself included, just do not have an "ear" thats developed enough to hear a flat 7 or know how / when to use it. If one is not familiar with a song and was told "it's in the key of A" wouldn't it be natural to go to a common 1..4..5 progression?

Now back to Russell's post - he said in the key of A the chords would be A..G..D and would just repeat throughout the song. This is where I got confused. If the chords had been written out as A..Gb7..D I would have known the chord formation BUT I still would not have known the reasoning for this usage. Also, should that chord (Gb7) be written as Gbdim since it is it is a 7 in the chord alphabet? Just need me some enlightenment from the Chordie Guru's.

Nela

Hey Russ
  I'm only asking this cuz I don't know, and I have no training, only self taught, in any of that music theory stuff.
As an example; Let's use the D,C,G, progression with it starting in D, saying it's in the key of D calling it a 1 b7 4 progression.  I'm thinking, using the D,C,G, progression starting with the D, that it's in the key of G using the 1,4,5 chords, but in a 5,4,1, progression.
  I don't, but,If anyone has a song book with the sheet music to it we could count the sharps or flats to determine the key, note the chord progression, and then we'd be able to figure if it's a "1,b7,4 --or a ,5,4,1 progression.   
 
I don't think it makes a difference but I'm really curios now.
 

  Does this make any sense or am I a complete lunatic?