7 Best Piano Chord Progressions for Beginners

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Thank you for watching! If you know any songs that use 1 2 4 5 progression, share those below!

[@amusical12]

Hi Tom. I love the sus chords, they always sound nice. I would love to learn to play some gospel songs, so I guess those chords are used there. I just googled 1 2 4 5 progression and it didn't come up with one single song lol. How can that be? Or rather not in that order. Not one!! Scratching my head now haha. Thanks for another lesson as it gives me something old or new to practice. 😉

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

@@amusical12 Great to hear from you and that you are using sus chords. Google won't help, unfortunately. with finding chord progressions by precise numbers. It has algorithms that won't understand these music theory conversations and even if it did, there is not much good information in the Google sphere on proper music theory. Ultimately you want to be listening to the bass lines of songs and working them out by ear. Here are a few 1 2 4 5 songs to start you off - "Want you back" (Take that) which is almost entirely that chord pattern, or "Love is all around" or even the connected verse section of that old classic "My Girl" - all a good example of the use of 1 2 4 5 in pop music bridging into a chorus. If you use the cheat sheet you can find it located in lots of other songs as well.

[@amusical12]

Thank you Tom and yep, you are correct with the Google thing 😊 I thought I'd have a look anyway, but not wasting my time with that. And yes I am interested in learning from your school. You are the best teacher (I believe) for me. You seem to get how I work. If you have time I just did a new piano version of "The Rose" but you will hear speak a bit about my music, playing by ear etc. That might help to understand where I'm coming from 😉 And yes thanks .... I have to listen to the melody and fit the bass lines in. I need practice on knowing which inversions to use.... onward I go. Hopefully I will be online with you soon. Thanks again

[@beverlycashin4320]

One thought is that since the 2 and the 4 are functionally the same, a song that used 1 4 5 could interject the 2, giving you 1 2 4 5. Like for Amazing Grace, in the first phrase: "how" is Dm, "sweet" is F, "the" is G, and "sound" is C.

[@lisahansen6014]

@@contemporaryschoolofpiano Where did you find the cheat sheet?

[@joanjohnstone7241]

So pleased to have found Tom Donald's tutorials. He is the absolute best teacher on You tube and speaks total sense, unlike a lot of teachers of music. I am nearly 80 years old and wish I had been lucky enough to have had a teacher like Tom when I started out with the old fashioned classical syllabus, the old fashioned teachers and exams! You are a breath of fresh air to the music world Tom - THANK YOU!!!!!!🥰

[@LiliVG]

There is no question that Tom is an excellent teacher breaking down sometimes difficult concepts for the beginner.

[@Minolta_Andy]

Hi Tom, i started piano 30+ years ago and got very frustrated trying to understand the theory and concepts behind the piano. Now in my late 50s ive come back to piano with a more patient headspace and a different mindset to learning. Thank you for how you present the piano as an instrument. Ive leaned more in 2 months than i every did in the 3 years in my previous attempt. To hear and appreciate the blending of chords and bass notes is so satisfying to me now. Its brilliant, thank you again.

[@IrvOrto]

This clip was very informative. Thank you for sharing

[@rpbishop3079]

There’s nothing that I could possibly say as to what I’m feeling after listening and watching several of your videos this evening. Turning 75 next month your presentations verbally as well as your keyboard translations have been so much more than just inspiring. I could never afford or even allow myself to think of purchasing so much as a single lesson, but as long as I can afford KZbin, I will follow and subscribe. I’m sure that your school is fantastic, and your instructors are excellent, but I do hope that you realize just how much of a gift your KZbin videos really are! Thanks, rp.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Thankyou.

[@winstonsmith9424]

great comment RP - i've watched zillions of these things on YT - including some very good stuff - and maybe i'm getting better and have assimilated some things - but Mr Tom and the LCSP make it all i dunno coherent and understandable and practical

[@rebanelson607]

I know exactly what you mean about the impossibility of traditional lessons and I agree that this channel is priceless!

[@johnpitt-z6f]

Thanks!

[@neilfitzgerald1041]

I have to agree with all the comments here. The way Tom teaches piano is the best I have come across on the internet.

[@Fingaphunk3000]

Incredibly inspiring lesson to expand simple ideas for anyone -THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jorgeparr3002]

Your lessons are simply AMAZING and so EASY🙏🙏🙏 Thank You SOOOOOOOOO MUCH 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Thankyou Jorge. Glad it's helping!

[@johnpitt-z6f]

This has opened my mind to both practice and theory. Thanks Tom.

[@marcblandel3538]

Merci c'est simple et lumineux so useful too Thanks à lot

[@Zonewriter3]

Excellent lesson! I really like your teaching style and quality videos. I am currently doing a lot of chord progressions ear training. This will help. Thanks for your passion to share!!

[@avalonpractice]

Thank you so much. You are an inspiration teacher

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

You are very welcome

[@rodneymanthengamanthenga7638]

awesom lesson

[@sharonosborne7856]

Thank you! I wish I had a lecturer like you when I did my B.Mus in the 1970's! Still learning!

[@daletwin1]

Wow!! Many of these progressions sound incredible. I even came up with a song, including the melody right as you were playing one of them. Great lesson.

[@jacquietarr7280]

Best lesson !

[@beatricejann9023]

Thanks! Talking to jazz playing friends, I had a feeling there was another way to look at it!!!

[@ruthsamaroo2382]

Great teaching. I am a senior beginner. You have made it so easy. Thank u very much. I know the chords but never knew how to put them together to sound beautiful.

[@rodgold]

Just Brilliant !! Best Wishes Rod :)

[@camillesindell2740]

Wow! I can't wait to do this! I can manage these chord progressions but the challenge is the rhythm, which seems more improv than not. Have you made a video addressing the process of getting to the type of rhythms you are using? So great. Funny, this is the stuff I've been trying to play for decades. What do you call this type of playing?

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Great that you've made a start. To get to that next level, I'd reccomend the Groove Mastery Course lcsp.samcart.com/products/groove-mastery-everyday/

[@bazzaf7641]

So simple but very effective Tom. I especially love the suspended chords and how you play them. I'm so pleased I found your web site as you have certainly moved my piano playing to another level.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

That's great to hear, keep up the good work and we look forward to hearing more about your musical journey this year!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I watched this again, at a time where I'm practicing inversions and voicing. Those are two fancy words for really the same thing, understanding the scales. I paused the video, went to the piano and saw how I'm going to spend the next weeks and months and probably years when I sit down and play. Merci beaucoup for this insight.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci beaucoup for this. Good information presented simply, with an eye to the future.

[@paulwatson4574]

Thanks for sharing this with such ease ,this will definitely improve my playing,great content.

[@dariuszrygier]

Loving You is an example of this pattern. Tom thank you for incredible lessons showing great musical things in a simple way. Pleasure to watch and learn. Dariusz

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Yes, that's also a good example!

[@chriscatapano1788]

Wonderful lesson

[@philippecoron9950]

C'est le frenchie. Super bien expliqué ce tutorial,,il me manque vos mains. J'adore les accords ,je travaille pour peu être un jour approcher votre talent. Musiquement vôtre

[@leshoffman4959]

The 1, 2min, 4, 5 is used in "My Girl" by the Temptations. This is a great course of study for a guitar and bass player who craves a better grasp of piano!

[@axelerlansson1502]

Great lesson very helpful! I would very much like to see a lesson on the chord progression of the intro to this video and all the levels of difficulty. Sounded amazing!

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

We have lots of other videos, many more advanced ones. Try the 2-5-1 videos and the advanced jazz chords videos. That will keep you pretty busy for now!

[@albertcella9679]

Very clear and useful video. Thanks!!

[@kirstenfruehling2868]

After watching your Elton John videos Eb maj, Bb maj and Ab maj have instantly become my favourite chords. I really believe we spend too much time on the C scale so that eventually the black keys put the fear of God into us which is a shame

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Yes! That's the beauty of piano these scales and chords are far more accessible than they are given credit for!

[@nezargatere4710]

Thank you🙏

[@carlgrainger2669]

Great job 👏

[@LADYKNICKOLE1]

awesome!!! thanks!!1

[@Life-is-a-Dance]

This is soo interesting and wonderful to play, thank you very much 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Happy to hear that you found the video interesting and useful.

[@2002jorgeparr]

Thank you! AWESOME LESSONS!!!

[@Arthur-fc5em]

Great class, a lot of fun to play. Thank you for sharing.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Thank you for your comment! I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the class and found it fun to play.

[@jamesbreen7288]

Legend, thanks for this dude!

[@timrizzo3941]

Great video- especially as a long time guitar player, now learning the piano and able to be more intentional in my choice of chord voicings, this was especially great. I was thinking that in the I-b7-IV-I, the Phish song Bug is an interesting example in that it makes great use of this in simply adjusting the order of the chords in differentiating the verse from the chorus while holding to the same progression.

[@elisabethteau6591]

Great tutorial. Thank you.

[@eri7-11]

oh my love favoriting and liking every video

[@sulynlam3562]

Thanks Tom! It’s so obvious from watching your great video that understanding about chords and knowing what signposts to actively listen out for have been sadly lacking in my adventures in self-learning since 2019. It’s a bit embarrassing but I realise I’ve been playing rather mindlessly, note by single note, while learning to sight-read classical pieces. This has made me (kind of tensely) reliant upon sheet music. I can see from this session that understanding chord patterns could simplify things dramatically and free you up to simply enjoy the sounds of different progressions in themselves. PS I’m working on your gospel chord pattern video which has had the same revelatory (and joyous) effect!

[@petervigna1949]

This is a great video thank you tom

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Very welcome

[@lotharlamurtra7924]

Really really good. I’d even say: how stupid not to have thought of that! This one lesson and the other one on inversions are a really good facilitator. Let’s practice.

[@jeffd330]

Hi Tom, great lesson. Can you tell me what model keyboard you're playing? Thanks much.

[@michaelantrum3088]

Roland RD 2000

[@williamhedley2222]

Just marvellous

[@johnharte2729]

Very interesting indeed

[@jamestwine958]

Outstanding thank you

[@jacquietarr7280]

Excellent

[@demaginheart4demaginheart436]

Real interesting tutorial ! Still learning....

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Aren't we all!

[@raquellopez112]

Very cool. Thank you very much. First time watching your video.👏🎹🎼

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@juergensguitarlounge]

Love is all around (I feel it in my fingers)

[@janinewebster5261]

Loved it thank you

[@병연전-p1y]

감사합니다 .감사함으로 받으면 결코 버릴것이 없나니 아멘 AMAN THANK YOU SO MARCH .. 감사합니다 ..

[@YdalirUllrsson]

Great lecture. I am a beginner since the last 60 years, I am digging into musical stuff but just recently really started comprehend. Especially when being introduced to chord progressions. I might hint to an app for android called pocket composer, which is really affordable and helps me following the technique you use (chord numbers) Thanks a lot for your great, helpful and professional work

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Glad it was helpful!

[@linasrimkus737]

Hello, can I get this wonderful lesson piano chords list please? It;s amazing!

[@MarshieC]

Gorgeous

[@maxxdaddy616]

I love this video but especially the opening improv piece which I assume is I bIII IV I. Is it at all possible to get sheet music or a link if it is broken down in another lesson?

[@forrest76-m8v]

Perfect mood,perfect lesson,perfect explaining,i wish this would be helpfull to me 👍😎💯🎸🇦🇷✌️

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Best of luck with your playing!

[@crox_rox]

Your lessons are great. Can I ask you what software or app you use to display the chord you are playing and the notes on the staff? It would be great to have this on a tablet while figuring our the chords.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Yes the software is called Classroom Maestro! It's very useful.

[@crox_rox]

@@contemporaryschoolofpiano Thank you

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

@@crox_rox I should add I think it only works on laptops/computer but they might have a tablet version.

[@grafen3teiner]

Hi Tom, is there any chance that you show a bit more detailed what you've played from 1:04 til 1:17? This is so awesome....P L E A S E !!

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Get in touch with www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com we have a masterclass on these chords specifically. Just mention this video!

[@grafen3teiner]

@@contemporaryschoolofpiano done........thx

[@shanemiller1025]

Oh yeah 🎉😊

[@randyschmuki3173]

Fantastic 😅

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Thanks 😅

[@lynx48k]

256th! 😄 Subscribed

[@philippecoron9950]

Tom,,,,,,,,c'est monstrueux,,trop fort

[@valerijgransen]

Super!!!!

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Learn_Listen_Love]

You rock Tom

[@ValerieKnowles-o4w]

I am going to be practicing these progressions, please could you send me the list thankyou

[@lisahansen6014]

Where am I get a list o fall the pieces that use this progression?

[@margueritechippendale8844]

Dear Tom , As a beginner, of course I have to learn the notes, the chords , the scales ect… to be able to play a song on a lead sheet and the progression is already written for me so I don’t understand why I have to learn the progressions since I am not a composer ?

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

There are so many reasons why you should study progressions. Chord progressions are in everything you'll ever learn and play, the piano is an instrument of chords (harmony) you are not just playing one note at a time. It's not a niche skill for composers only, it's an essential skill, that will enable you to understand how music works. Everything you hear, listen to, in music, is a chord progression. So understanding this probably is the most important "musical nutrition" a beginner can have. The benefits are too many to list in one message but would include, improved technique, understanding of sound, vital ear training (hearing major and minor), improved sight-reading (you'll actually know what you are reading!) and the list goes on! Hope this helps

[@paulmalutinok7221]

What keyboard is used in your videos. I have a full piano but looking to purchase digital

[@veronicab.8884]

Hi. I think his keyboard is a Roland RD2000.

[@joanjohnstone7241]

Hi Cait, please could I have a copy of the crib sheet for this tutorial, many thanks, Joan Wells.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Cait is the Course Enrolments Director of the School, she doesn't check the KZbin channel comments, it's best you email her if you'd like to speak with her, or email the team via the website, www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com

[@kiralighto2573]

Am struggling at reading music any serious Tipps ?

[@madlabproductions7185]

1 flat 3 4 1 in the key of c how is this as they aren't supposed to be no flats or shares in the key of c please explain and here the third becomes a major 🧐🤔 ?

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Good question. So let me answer it in two parts. The first part, adding notes to a chord progression or melody that are not in scale, can be referred to as "borrowing notes from other keys", I like to call it letting in the neighbors. Music would be boring if it was only diatonic to the exact key. So composers never think of music as "you are not allowed to add notes from other keys" or their music could be very bland. So given that, why is it we refer to b3, b2, or b6 as major chords. The reason being, is usually, when we borrow a chord from another key, it will be a secondary dominant or a flattened major chord. That's because it is more "cohesive" to the sound. Though there is nothing from stopping a composer using minor flattened chords. It will just sound a bit more abstract, and polytonal, rather than consistent. I hope this helps! If you visit our website www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com and email us, we can provide you with some very valuable information on our courses which will help you really "feel" and understand this type of theory in a more artistic way. Many thanks for your quesiton.

[@madlabproductions7185]

Can please explain

[@madlabproductions7185]

Thanks for your reply cap ..... I am just a beginner so this question derives from my level of overstand of scales thus far in my journey

[@ferdaozdemir]

Hi, I think you should recreate this video by smaller chord image(s) and a large video of yourself. Here the important thing is to see the location and movement of your fingers. These charts and explanations are already everywhere. It is good that you are showing how to do these but unfortunately your video is too small compared to the charts. Since you already have the recording, I think recreating this KZbin video would be very easy. Thank you...

[@TwelfthRoot2]

I didnt know that Christopher Hitchens could play piano :)

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Haha - I've been told I look like him - but I've never quite seen it myself! But you aren't the only one to have said so....

[@christinacortez-zb2qx]

So where can I get these chord progressions

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Visit www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com and ask for the 7 chords pack

[@cnichoable]

Love the way you teach...urm can you say songs that use these progressions

[@ugajin7348]

@18:50 so why is 1sus/4 shown as F-5(add9)?

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

@18:50 is at the end of the video, I'm not sure which part you are referring to specifically, but the software for chord recognition (Classroom Maestro) is hyper-sensitive to non-chord-related finger techniques such as arpeggiation, so it will occasionally display the chord in a different format. Though you can explain certain chords that are the same in different ways, take Csus4, it has exactly the same notes as Fsus2...(for example)

[@ugajin7348]

@@contemporaryschoolofpiano @16:20 F2 C4 D4 G4 can be interpreted in a number of ways, but F-5add9 isn't one of them.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

@@ugajin7348 yes Csus2/F is much better or 1sus2/4 as on the lead sheet in our resources pack which is available via our site www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com

[@ugajin7348]

@@contemporaryschoolofpiano If it is interpreted from the bass up, it ought to show F6(s2). No one's bogged down here! :)

[@FirstLast-vt3ii]

Heh , ya , I was puzzled too. I was thinking (since no third) maybe there’s a case for: “Fsus2-5add9” but that’s just nonsense! Lol.

I heard from a teacher that when you start learning to play 7ths it is better to use use fingers 1-2-4-5 to play 7ths. I am not sure the reason.

[@SunilSharma-sp9yp]

How do you ‘make music’ knowing this? If you find yourself at a piano with no sheet music, do you just repeat 1564-1564….for as long as you want to keep playing?!

[@rosaliedeneubourg3225]

I now know what it must feel like to be illiterate. It is also a horrible feeling for me that after almost 5 years I still cannot make music freely.😞 I can recognise and read chords but not find them quickly enough on the keys. Like a computer that has too little RAM.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Be kind on yourself and take it slowly. Start with one progression, get comfortable with that. We are not computers, we don't need lots of RAM, it's all about emotion! In the age of AI a computer will beat us every time, but I will never ever beat us on emotion!

[@rosaliedeneubourg3225]

@@contemporaryschoolofpiano Thank you very much for your nice feedback. I will take this to heart. It was probably that I’m too impatient. But luckily I’m persistent. And hope dies last. One day I would like to increase my pension, e.g. in the church as an organist. That’s why I don’t let it go and work every day as often as I can on my progress.

[@nichttuntun3364]

🤗

[@shirleyasquith2419]

I thought that chords were played with the left hand and melody with right hand? Why teach it the other way around? Confusing for me.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

Hi Shirley. Thanks for asking this. Actually, this is a big misconception. Chords in the bass often sound muddy and bland and too many method books push this arrangement style which is a huge shame. There are better arrangement principles that are followed by composers, in general, to avoid the muddiness of a left-hand chord over a singular melody in the right-hand. Here are 3 vastly better ways. 1 Chords accompaniment in the left hand, as arpeggios against a right-hand melody. 2 Chord in the right hand integrated with melody in the right hand (I have some training videos on how to do this) with a bass line in the left hand. 3. Arpeggios in both hands spread out over the piece. Whatever way you look at it, you can't avoid that your right-hand needs to play chords and often! Be it Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata all the way to an Elton John song. Keep in mind all piano accompaniment figurations, mostly use right-hand chords as well. So it's really useful to train both hands in playing chords and melody. Hands need to switch roles in most piano playing.

[@MahonaBona]

REAL TALK - some great substantive content, but the format and tech of this channel looks and feels incredibly dated. these videos are from 2022/2023 but look like they are 10 years old. very clunky interface with the the various boxes so small that you can't even see the actual video of him playing and tons of empty space. sheet music and downloads should be automatic download when you provide your email, not send us an email and we'll send you the docs. ain't nobody got time for that! I keep landing on this channel bc the topics and instruction are great but you gotta work on updating your visuals and tech. there are tons of tools out there to make this channel truly more "contemporary" lol. not at all trying to be a jerk just my .02 as I think that's probably the biggest thing holding this channel back from growing and reaching more people. again the content is great but I find these videos borderline unwatchable for these reasons.

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

For those who adore the sleek and shiny, you might be tempted by some of our high-spec videos. Like this more minimalist production: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2fcpGmpnpmGeNE Now, the MIDI analysis tool we swear by is Classroom Maestro. Sure, it boasts rare chord accuracy, but let's face it - it was birthed by music aficionados, not tech runway models. Ah, if only there was a software lovechild of both worlds (And we've yet to find that, though since this video CM has updated it's GUI). But until that magical day, we’re siding with substance over the latest sparkle. Yes, the Classroom Maestro GUI in this video (before their recent update) might scream 90s throwback, but remember, the piano’s been grooving since the 1700s. Makes the 90s seem quite trendy, right? For those who lost track (or just really like clicking links), here's that video one more time (and there are many more of these as well on the channel): enjoy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2fcpGmpnpmGeNE P.S. We've invested oodles of passion, sweat, and maybe a few midnight snacks into producing hours of free content. To our genuine music aficionados, those delightful freebies should have landed directly in your email - unless they took a detour to your Spam folder! Just ensure you've given the email a peek and followed the easy-peasy steps. They’re waiting to serenade your inbox! 🎶💌 Visit www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com and drop us a line and see if you past the first test!

[@charliemcgrain]

Excellent video, many thanks.

[@JaguerRhye]

Thanks so much for the great lesson!

[@michaelandersson1904]

Great lesson! Thank you so very, very much!

[@contemporaryschoolofpiano]

You're very welcome!