A Simple Chord Progression Trick You Should Know

In this video we will cover a very simple and ubiquitous chord progression you've probably come across already, but show a few tricks for modifying it and making it sound better, as well as making it fit within a chord progression. In short, it involves taking the A minor chord (Am) and shifting the A down a semitone each time, creating a very pleasing voice leading.
If you want to support my channel, consider paying my sister's online jewelry store a visit (if that's your thing, of course :) ). Here is the link:
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[@paulakellyrogers]

You are my new favorite Piano teacher. You explain and demonstrate your lessons very well. I look forward to spending more time with you. Blessings. Thanks for your great investment in your students.(I'm 73 years old.)

[@CrazyHenkie777]

well i am going to just repeat wat everyone in the comments is saying: awesome lessons, the best! I am a long time musician and due to an injury i had to give up playing guitar. Now i only can play a little piano just to satisfy my musical needs. I always loved the theoretical side of music and discovering it again from a pianoplayers perspectve is very satifying. All thanks to you. Music always meant everything to me and now you kind of gave it back to me. For that i thank you a lot.

[@michaelreyes2794]

If you want to learn how to play piano like a pro then visit this website here: HootPiano.info

[@AFloodofSolaceJohnWhigham]

God bless you. I pray that your new direction will be amazing and totally fulfilling.!!! Keep up the good work and you will go way beyond your dreams.!! (Ephesians 3:20)

[@officialWWM]

So you only play a little piano? Not a full sized one?

[@Ahijahprince]

@@officialWWM Haha! That's a good one! Way to keep the comments fun!

[@angelotorres3184]

The first 60 seconds of this video, and I've already learned something new.

[@MangoldProject]

Glad to hear that Angelo :)

[@chaton51]

You know nothing lol

[@yogicbeats8128]

Chris Chaton the hell

[@siswoyoy1083]

@@MangoldProject zi9z9]{*9{9{99]99059{45]99994]4999{999{69{99{97{979{469]9{(48]9{9}{{99{]9*8*{79{e959z9z4z9z9zz$$7z7zZ8449zz99z]4{{989{,97˙||`|964{9{{9899{{9{869997699zz99zz49s9z9Z898999zz9$4s9$5zz499{4]495{949{4-9,4$(*#9{9#9{99{{9{{{9&{r9t7z9z9z9z9sz94eed9z9495Z999z{999{499{({{{*9{9{]99{9995{9{{9{{98859{9{9{99

[@siswoyoy1083]

@@chaton51 uz4(9z4ii4z$9]99Zz9$999zz98zz9r9{{9{9{*{948{]8]999{994]{49z94zsz9f9z9d99{9$549{${#]84{9{998998{999{9{9{9894z9$EE4999zz89z5899{]{9989{994{94{]49{49{49499{9{99{9{9]4{44{9{9999{9{99]49{94{{978499499{99{,4{9{8-|β|↓«↓«|β˙||||94$zzZ4z99z8z984sSz9999z995d{9{9$]{9{9#49{{49{{9$9$#49999{5{{9{]&#49$9{{99499{4{{949z$$E99i9zir9z9z4R495Z9z49z9e$z98sz4R4zzz9$Z4z97{{9{7{9996{{9{9{$48S9z944909ZZ{9{949]98499{{49#8{59{99{{49499z9zozio9{##994959{]9{{8889{^99]{{{9eZz$r{{${99z94t,9999$4499Z$9oz4izrzzz9$s494z*4$]978ss99zzr4z9z9r9dzzz9899z9s9{${4{zz94ZZ9999z994z9z8zdz,9zzr9r99zz949,9-{,{{{99]97,]{98{49]9{88{{44r9,9z9Z499yd8Ze,$z44,9,z99z4SSD594zz949{99496{#{94{{$99{]4{9994z$849zt8#899T$rz948z9zezz9Zc4,e4,$94{449{$9]99{9#8]i494zs44955,e,5rs9u8sz9Z9zz$ez449r9,75s99499R999Z94z99zz,4zz94rdzz9e9E9z(4994z4zoZZ98e9ez9z$49E4sz9{9]8{{{#7{794{,49$94{{$99{49{[{99z4zez9999{9(5{{#{4]${{{8{&499,8[^[4{{99999{8{{94944sz949949]99{7{$9{94{94999z99,99z9Z4eZz$9{{96{9{9{49#99{{44499,49{99r799{$9{9$49#99{4,49]49r9,s9rz499z9z7Zz4694998z49i47#{8*4Z49ez9z$rz{zrz9r99]4&9{{{4(#{{94{{]94499{4{#9,{{99{49,994${9{94{9,94z4or,4949dzedr4r94,z49z44oz4449z9z$9sD99$9zeze9z9${94499499ry4sei9r49E$z9{#8-,99{{9,99{9z$$,]94]${]9{{98]9#4#9{{749$z948r94zr4Z9sz49r9z9zr499#9{985489977947e9998zdzr,9z948zz9r4,iXXiz9ziyz,49zz9$96{44#$,949$9]9{]9]9996zrds98Z49z$z$r4E9e599{]{4e685s84{{${$4,9s4444,rse94z9848sSu8e888868rei4tz$4,ez9z4zz9(ezd98Dz49$49zz9r9,z{4#,$]{{${9]{]{]{84{$]9{96489999β|${,9{4{9{[96{5{9{49]{4]9{{994949{9{{99,z94988$8495}#]#4]9944949$S4z9z994Z9999TT$499$rzrz9z9499{{]499599{4{99$94z9r4$9z9d9z944$Ssz449Ee49E9dire9r4zs9r4z9z499SZZZz9zz9E9efrdr9z74f*s4i$s6,r,49r4,5]48{{4{94,99,999{,944$4949448{z998XXz9z9894e9eeze9z9z4EEe9ERR4zeszs9d8rrr4$$s4s8,8e]]$r949ds$i4444{949e44sz9499ds99e4r9,z49z9$7,7449zr9z449s8y4r9zz$949999zreizz8748z99${,,9494,s$e9z49998]9ze84s9ree9e4zS999449Ez4$#$^}[449994z9sdz$z98reis7,y9z8rzrz,479ds9e9zr9,{${949449$9##({{{]9#4]&4498949,949yzz,r48rseed4Ezze9{$$$4978e4e4u9z9rs9ree49,9449,ezze9489e5r8,*9ye9Z9$9]49z499z4z,r9zrz949e,,r949sr$ee9,4998zz99sr8re4o,84s8zz8z9z49s94{${{]{{49999z4z9,4e,984z9e,d,49{$985$zZE5ez8e4,,zzz9,94E79se69z9z9z9r44,z$,ezzr,z4z4$$9494$,#,##{,#,#{,](${]$8#99^{98{${{{,{{${,,{9{8${9499899494z,z9z884^^,#{${{{{,${{#

[@coloaten6682]

This is an amazing lesson!! It opened a huge door to me as a beginner....I'm now playing chord progressions and experimenting, learning and really enjoying just playing. It made me start to sound like a pianist after only 7 weeks from buying my 1st digital piano. Thank you so much for this inspirational lesson. Just wonderful.

[@courtneycastello4218]

Sir you are seriously brilliant at teaching. Your channel is unique, what you teach I don't see on other video tutorials. It's like you are teaching all the neat tricks others don't teach us. God bless you!

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks Courtney.

[@Ahijahprince]

I've lost track of how many of your lessons I've viewed, but each is full of enlightenment! I'm a long time musician, and your tips are just what I need to keep some spice in my piano/keyboard game! Thanks so much, from the sunny Caribbean!

[@MangoldProject]

Awesome! Hello back from sunny Israel.

[@iantanner7579]

Oh, how i wish you were my next door neighbour - honestly, without a doubt the best piano tutor on youtube - i've understood the theory for years, coming from a minimal, electronica angle, but these tips and tricks are solid gold. i've said it before, but thank you so much for sharing, and for just being you ~ much love to you and yours, from London ~

[@13Moondancer]

Sorry to repeat: Marvellously informative tutorial without baffling us with jargon. Cannot wait to practise this 🙏

[@renniemadziyauswa4254]

dude...the way you explain these things is just beautiful... please keep bringing us more tutorials...

[@MangoldProject]

Already workin' on it :)

[@vocalchords3609]

We are all much better human beings as well as musicians from these wonderful conversations you share with us. Thank you so much!

[@stevekellar1403]

HEY I LOST YOU FOR AWHILE. NOW I'VE GOT YOU BACK ! THANKFULLY. YOU'RE THE BEST !

[@tomasrodriguez3933]

A last note: I like your classes very much. They have very good information. Thanks.

[@03clarkkent03]

Beginner piano student and this was REALLY simple and easy to understand. Thank you Sir.

[@bornon221269]

this is useful, real, great stuff that you teach - in a simple way - not all the bla bla of many other channels, thanks indeed

[@MangoldProject]

+bornon221269 I try to minimize the amount of bla bla :)

[@13Moondancer]

I I've your tutorials. I practise so much to improve the richness in my piano playing. So appreciate your time in making these tutorials 👍

[@elizabethmartinez5571]

this is really helpful for people like who knew nothing. playing piano..I can't thank you enough for this online piano teaching.

[@johnjoubert2224]

Really good advice for beginning players or seasoned fans of the piano who just want to learn a bit more and sound better. Well done sir.

[@rgarlinyc]

Very good, very clearly explained (as usual) and so, very helpful too - thanks a million!

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks for watching! Stick around :)

[@burtonwheeler8241]

I will join in and say that all comments are very true. I am from a piano family with many well known musicians. So I appreciate the explanation of the theory

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci beaucoup. As I start out on my musical journey, you are a great tour guide.

[@swlbarely]

This seems to be a very valuable piece of piano knowledge. I appreciate you posting this lesson very much Sir!

[@rocconorth]

The initial example is "Stairway to Heaven" pretty much.

[@christopherdeoliveira714]

Dude, you're literally awesome as hell! Your channel is EXACTLY what I was searching for. I'm a self taught guitarist of ten years and electronic producer of about three years... so obviously I just dread hitting the "music theory" tutorials and being started off with what a "treble clef" is. Finally, now to just sit and sponge it up. :)

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks Christopher. Let the sponging commence. :)

[@southpark4151]

That was awesome! Sounds very good. Thanks a lot!!!

[@mistergloomy]

i've seen a lot of tutorials and this is one of the best, thanks!

[@13Moondancer]

Beautifully explained. Will definitely practise this. Thank you.

[@Grasseatscows23]

I truly love your piano lessons they are the best. Your actually a pretty good teacher. Seriously you are good maybe way too good

[@theodorekorbos2804]

I really enjoyied this .I look forward to your other video's! Thank you very much !

[@robertpien8708]

This is so good it can add so much color and emotions to and cord progression. Ty

[@sathipkrengg]

@MangoldProject :AMazing video...I love your lessons more than any piano lessons...because you kind of explain the theory/idea behind the chord progression/melody/solo instead of teaching to play the song.Love it!

[@MangoldProject]

+satwik krishna Thanks Satwik! I teach the way I like to be taught. That's my secret ;)

[@conlie23]

Absolutly amazing and helpfull, thank you for sharing 🙏🎶🎼

[@shiv26196]

Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce is another great song that has this kind of harmonic movement.

[@andyracksthecams]

Thank you. Great information and very well presented. I am a fan.

[@davidfreel1451]

GREAT WORK !!!! It is so rare to see a demonstration of harmony on the piano which provides the two simple yet essential factors which make the knowledge useful. Those are CLARITY and CONTEXT. Great to see self control and empathy with the learner are actually possible on a youtube video, cheers !I would call the second chord E7+/G#, not that that matters too much. B7b9/F# is nice as a tritone sub for FMaj ( I hear the F as coming from the Andalucian cadence by the way so kinda hear it as going to E7b9).Anyway I am looking forward to searching for gems amongst your older videos.

[@joaoguerreiro5716]

Very instructive. Thanks so much for taking the time to do those. All the best!

[@MangoldProject]

+João Guerreiro You're welcome Joao!

[@KirillBezzubkine]

Love your vids. Explanation process 'n pace are lovely

[@westyfu]

Great vid! Well presented, easy to follow, solid info!

[@rajnikantsavita3021]

Sir very thanks for providing this type of learning vedio. you provide best class for Indian learner's.

[@alanrad5]

The best lessons on KZbin. Thanks.

[@kevinlander46]

Wow Just Brilliant many Thanks, picked it up very quick being a beginner

[@dannuttle9005]

This was great. Not difficult (at least at the level I'm at now) but full of possibility for expression. I've picked up several things like that from you, and it means that I can sit down and noodle around at the piano in a way that makes people say, "Wow, you have really been practicing!" Naw, I just found a really good youtube channel.

[@MangoldProject]

Hey, you just described half of my piano playing "career" ;)

[@scottfoster3643]

Simple and priceless Thank you good sir

[@97yawnac]

Very interesting. Heard it many times and now I know the trick!! Thanks for the upload!!

[@MangoldProject]

+97yawnac No prob! And check out all the songs this fits just by scrolling through the comments section :)

[@RodrigoCoutinhoDuarte]

Thank you so much for this lesson! Clear, precise and very mindful of all the possibilities a piano can have

[@peternemeth1777]

It's also in: feeling, nothing more than feeling and in chim chiminy from marry poppins, also in donna donna.

[@juniorleandre985]

Hi thank you. May the Lord keep blessing you.

[@laladyyoavila8509]

that is so awesome I learned something new today-! thank you for taking time to share this awesome tricks-!

[@MangoldProject]

+laladyyo avila Glad you learned something, and here's to many more new ideas to be gained from future (and past) videos :)

[@TaffmanGuyo]

Thank you for your continued good work. Best wishes from the U.K.

[@MangoldProject]

+TaffmanGuyo Thanks for watching, and regards back from Israel!

[@ZERMELOmusic]

These are great lessons: looking at variations of popular progressions. It'd be cool to see how far one can take the 1564 progression with substitutions and variations.

[@MohiniSharma.]

Awesome Sir. Thank you so much.🙏🏻

[@samanthamccallum13]

This is great! Thank you so much for posting this 😊

[@MangoldProject]

+Samantha McCallum My pleasure Samantha.

[@OkoliChioma-fi3db]

Thanks so much Mangold. U are doing well, pls keep up the good work

[@MangoldProject]

Will do. Keep on practicing!

[@OkoliChioma-fi3db]

@@MangoldProject sure Just that getting the tonic solfa of songs without piano is still difficult

[@robertboutelje3928]

Good lesson ... he makes it look so easy !

[@prada188Official]

ty very much... i think this channel is best teacher...

[@augustinea.sillah5355]

Coool vid thanks

[@paramaagaaz2597]

it is too useful for beginner, for me thanks a lot SIR

[@direitofinanceiroceub1352]

Thanks a lot for the lessons! You are awesome indeed.

[@MangoldProject]

+Direito Financeiro CEUB Many thanks :)

[@LProds]

The counter motions made it really interesting. Thanks.

[@MangoldProject]

+LProds Now go and listen to the bass line in Michael Jackson's "Bad" and identify the counter motion when Michael starts singing the first verse :)

[@aloksankhe]

Maybe you can also make some videos where you take some songs and explain what kind of trick or style is being used to make that song iconic. It will help a lot to understand and work on songwritting and composing.

[@MangoldProject]

Unfortunately I can't do that because of copyright laws on KZbin. I've seen many channels get DMCA copyright strikes and this can easily bury a channel :(

[@GolerGkA]

Awesome lesson! Can you go into more detail about music theory: _why_ does this work? Why does the progression down goes by semitones, out of key, but the progression up keeps in key?

[@user-pk4sd9dd2w]

be great to see this in the context of music theory. does this descending step down work just because its chromatic and hence sounds good to our ears? is it all diatonic? or are you modulating? tks!

[@jcharos7672]

You really make it look easy. Nice mellow approach for learning piano techniques.

[@MangoldProject]

+J Charos Mellow is my middle name! :)

[@kjellandersen9267]

Aint misbehaven

[@boldcautionproductions9203]

Another great video - I have to catch up, I'm getting further ahead watching your videos than I can keep up with practice.

[@travisdt]

Thank you for your knowledge and generosity...

[@MangoldProject]

+Travis Tran You're welcome, Travis.

[@voiceofrejoice]

Loved the lesson. Thanks so much...

[@jules7168]

I love your videos man, greetings from France, Peace

[@MangoldProject]

Greetings back from Israel!

[@MrMikomi]

Wonderful, thank you!

[@jkristia2011]

Very nice lesson. Thank you.

[@stranomartin]

This is exactly what i was looking for!

[@jiis4kookonly811]

Im going to save up money to buy my own keyboard happily just have less than 2 weeks before the school start:) Just by watching this help me a lot!

[@ricklarson9312]

Good lesson ! Lee

[@JOUA1400]

Very to the point. Bravo!

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Thanks for the clear explanation.

[@ofyavuz]

Inspiring video. Thank you

[@harlemw651]

Great lesson! Thank you! ❤

[@gbalouserge2092]

Thanks so much father god bless you

[@saadachab8425]

Really you are a good pisno teacher thank you a lot

[@fryakakingmchl843]

Thank you - its been a while since I learned a new twist in a piano

[@ryaaaaaaaan7115]

0:33 I relistened to Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” again today, and hearing you play that chord almost startled me. It’s used in the beginning of “Nobody Home”, one of the more emotional tracks of the record. I wonder if anyone else had this feeling.

[@pauldalit11111]

I think its much more like to stairway to heaven by LedZep

[@floridaoutfit6785]

I just subscribed. Awesome video!

[@CliveBarnettrecluse]

you are #1.U can do all the shameless plugs you want.u r still numero uno. You present us with so many things that are easy to learn and very useful tools to have in a musical toolbag. Thanx a million

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks Clive! Don't mind if I plug away, then :D

[@kip4966]

This is an awesome lesson ❤🙏

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks!

[@cb21489]

Thank you for the video! I love it.

[@MangoldProject]

+Chris Bailey You're welcome, Chris.

[@ingridkneer8246]

Sounded great, thanks:=))

[@yensterling9892]

amazing! thank you!

[@geralynpalacol9295]

Beautiful!!!!!!!

[@jimmypavia8444]

thank u thank master i luv like this tuturial ...

[@dannybirai]

What a great video. Excellent job

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks Pasta :). (I'm assuming that's not your real name ... )

[@dannybirai]

Lol, no, its Daniel. I have a few more questions though. I've always played piano, but never stuck to a structured schedule and have reached a ceiling in my playing. My goal is to be be able to play hymns very well (I am a pastor... thus the name Pasta) but really be able to play by ear with excellence. To that end, here is my practice routine. Kindly share your thoughts... My goal is 2 hours of practice a day. I've been hitting closer to 1 hour. This plan began about 2 months ago. 1. I play 20 minutes of scales. I can play all scales with both hands and am now leaning different scales with each hand (like Bb in left hand while A in right hand) to make sure my fingering is solid. There are plenty of scales to learn, so that will probably never end. 2.I play 30 minutes using a method book (starting at level 1) that teaches the fundamentals (even though I am familiar, my technical skills are poor). I plan on learning the book and moving to the next levels till I'm done. 3. I play 20-30 minutes of chords. Learning to play Major, minor, diminished and augmented in all keys.Right now I'm at the triads, and have PLENTY more chords to learn. 4. I spend 20-30 minutes learning theory. It used to be using an app (Tenuto) and doing things like ear training, recognizing key signatures, etc.... But I have now moved to using your videos. How do you recommend I watch your videos? I've watched your piano quickie (1-8) and while much is review, I still need to master the concepts in all 12 keys. I am a composer and write my own songs ( CCM - christian contemporary music with a bent on gospel) Do you have any suggestions on how better use my practice time? Also, how can I shape it to meet my goals? I recently watched a video you made on augmented and diminished and it was AWESOME how you tied in not only how to play them, but what they lead into. THIS IS WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR. How certain chords naturally lead to other chords. My goal, again, is to be able to play anything by ear and to play hymns well. Not interested too much in advanced classical music, although I still want to continue my technical skills. Sorry for the long email. I figure others may benefit from it. I'm happy to email you privately if you wish to continue there....

[@dannybirai]

I also recognize that this is the work of a lifetime. I am willing to make that long term commitment. I just don't want to keep second guessing how to actually get there. There is simply so much information out there that it tends to be overwhelming. I want to focus on learning theory, which allows me to come up with music and also adapt existing songs to add flavor to them.

[@hungrylad6411]

very well compiled

[@brendahuie1958]

Love it! Thank you.

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks Brenda!

[@mrfudd13]

The descending melodic line is a very compelling musical form, and you resisted the urge to play Stairway To Heaven, and certain Beatles tunes, which is to your eternal credit.

[@rachellynn5389]

Great lesson!

[@jamiebelanger9939]

your my idol! thank you very much!!

[@TheRaunak666]

Thank you so much mangold project I've learnt so much from you _/\_

[@stradaveriusfiddle]

The 1st part, with a minor, seems quite similar to George Harrison's/Beatles, 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. Thanks for all your helpful info.

[@MangoldProject]

Almost. Harrison's song use a very similar progression (Am, C/G, Am/F#, F off the top of my head in the key of C).

[@skyvibe1818]

Thanks a lot, great stuff here! :D

[@aloksankhe]

This is a wonderful trick. I am going to try it on my Guitar too. Let's see how does it sound. Thank you for this amazing video. It's time to subscribe your channel and put notifications on. Thank you again for the act of sharing. 👏👏👏😊

[@isaacogbevinofriday9810]

Thank you mangold you are the best teacher , just that I can't reach you one on one.

[@elsicongru7400]

This was an amazing video! Just one question though, in the second pattern (both fingers moving in different directions), I get how your index fingers goes down one half step, but what pattern do you use when you go up (A-B-C-D)? Are you going up by a whole step? Or are you playing the notes of the major scale?

[@one2play4]

I immediately thought of ghostwriter by rjd2 when I heard the beginning!

[@PianoByHON]

Amazing and simple!)