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BlueSky · Dec 5, 2006, 01:51 PM

A Brief History of Pop Music -- In Four Chords

This is neat. There's chord progressions like C-Am-F-G, which make up literally thousands of songs, and this sounds like a variation...sounds like C-G-Am-F (or transposition).

Read the list below the video as this guy goes through them, same four chords. Weird thing to me though is that he didn't include the most obvious (to me) song that shares the chords.

Gossamer · Dec 5, 2006, 01:56 PM

Which is?

BlueSky · Dec 5, 2006, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Which is?

Don't Stop Believin' - Journey Music - MP3 Stream on IMEEM

CharlesS · Dec 5, 2006, 03:19 PM

I thought it was pretty generally known that popular music uses that same chord progression pretty much all the time.

It's the reason why I prefer something like Stravinsky, but to each his own.

Doofy · Dec 5, 2006, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Read the list below the video as this guy goes through them, same four chords. Weird thing to me though is that he didn't include the most obvious (to me) song that shares the chords.

He's British, he's under 30. That means he probably doesn't know it exists.

Gossamer · Dec 5, 2006, 03:54 PM

Oh yeah, that's the first song I though of when I heard him start playing, I just couldn't place it.

Yose · Dec 5, 2006, 04:37 PM

I wonder how pissed off that guy trying to play video games was during all of that.

Kevin · Dec 5, 2006, 05:28 PM

Yeah the "Magic Chords" Spinal Tap uses em too I am bet.

Whenever I pull songs out of my lower oriface around the campfire it usually has these chords.

Gossamer · Dec 5, 2006, 05:48 PM

G-C-D-Em or combinations of the 4 work well too.

besson3c · Dec 5, 2006, 05:57 PM

The most popular progression in all music:

V -> I (major or minor)

The cadence. In jazz, you'd add the minor ii to make: ii V I (major) or ii Valt i (minor)... It all comes back to the cadence though!

Doofy · Dec 5, 2006, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

G-C-D-Em or combinations of the 4 work well too.

Everyone knows that it's not a proper song if it hasn't got an Am in it.

BRussell · Dec 5, 2006, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

The most popular progression in all music:

V -> I (major or minor)

The cadence. In jazz, you'd add the minor ii to make: ii V I (major) or ii Valt i (minor)... It all comes back to the cadence though!

Yeah, but in pop it's all in one key, whereas in jazz there's a cadence in Eb, then G, then B, etc.

(Extra points if you can name that progression!)

Rumor · Dec 5, 2006, 08:39 PM

I read: A Brief History of Poop Music

So I came in expecting another Britney Spears thread.

Kevin · Dec 5, 2006, 09:28 PM

Her cooter has no musical ability.

Well it could have the ability to qüeef a few songs out.

besson3c · Dec 5, 2006, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

Yeah, but in pop it's all in one key, whereas in jazz there's a cadence in Eb, then G, then B, etc.

(Extra points if you can name that progression!)

A lot of jazz is in one key too, there is just more harmonic dressing (usually).

I couldn't tell you what that progression was unless I knew what key the piece was written in

Kevin · Dec 5, 2006, 10:06 PM

a lot of jazz is just chromatics and blue notes.

demograph68 · Dec 5, 2006, 11:51 PM

I can say that I'll never listen to those songs in the same way ever again. Fortunately, I don't play them so I guess I'll be alright.

BRussell · Dec 6, 2006, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

A lot of jazz is in one key too, there is just more harmonic dressing (usually).

I suppose you could look at it like that, but when I see a ii-V-I, where the I is not the original key, I think "key change," and I think that's the way it sounds to listeners.

I couldn't tell you what that progression was unless I knew what key the piece was written in

Aw come on, it's one of the most famous in jazz, and it's in only a handful of tunes. A cycle of major thirds. Try again?

a lot of jazz is just chromatics and blue notes.

Yeah right.

Doofy · Dec 6, 2006, 06:02 AM

Uh oh. Must post Ted pic before all the jazz makes this thread too uncool.

"The only scale I'm aware of is the one I weigh dead deer on".

besson3c · Dec 6, 2006, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

I suppose you could look at it like that, but when I see a ii-V-I, where the I is not the original key, I think "key change," and I think that's the way it sounds to listeners.

On standard tunes, in theory it is a key change, often temporary unless modulating to a new key for the bridge, or to a predictable key within a common progression (e.g. IV chord in blues/rhythm changes). A lot of the chords that seem overwhelming to a player are just additional icing, or a single note within the scale that accompanies the chord changes to provide a slight change in color.

My point is that with experience one can learn to widdle down a set of changes into the meat and potatoes, and in doing so make them far less overwhelming.

Aw come on, it's one of the most famous in jazz, and it's in only a handful of tunes. A cycle of major thirds. Try again?

I'm blanking. Oh... duh! Giant Steps... sorry about that!

Yeah right.

It looks like Kevin has asserted himself as an authority on this topic, interesting...

turtle777 · Dec 6, 2006, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

The cadence.

Gotta love D-cadence

-t

besson3c · Dec 6, 2006, 08:11 PM

And g-string!

Rumor · Dec 6, 2006, 08:12 PM

turtle777 · Dec 6, 2006, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

And g-string!

Aaahhh, D-cadence g-strings. Priceless.

-t

Kevin · Dec 6, 2006, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

It looks like Kevin has asserted himself as an authority on this topic, interesting...

You got that from one generalized sarcastic post?

Wow.