5 popular chord progressions and why they work

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0:00 Introduction
0:23 I V bVII IV
4:43 the Major scale climb
6:11 Pure Upright
6:57 I IV I V
9:26 the Phrygian vamp
11:20 IV I V

[@2023_GJ]

Your teaching chord progressions with examples like this has really helped me internalize the 'feel' of each. Thank you for the amazing content!

[@avedic]

ikr?? That is THE thing I love about these videos. And then....he expounds on HOW it's all working. It's fascinating. I learned today that I _quite_ love the I - V - bVII - IV progression. All the example songs were wildly different in so many ways. But....they all had a....gumption. A confidence...but an earned swaggering confidence. Breezy. I never thought of that progression that way...let alone thought of it much at all. But now....all I want to do is incorporate it into my own songwriting right NOW. These videos are hyper inspirational.

[@drumjjj777]

This

[@SuitedAJ]

You should consider making a series of Spotify playlist based on each chord progression and songs that conform to it!

[@ThePrinceChet]

brilliant!

[@ShaharHarshuv]

The thing is each song typically contains more then one progression

[@EricMakingWaves]

Holy crap yes this is a great idea.

[@kane6529]

You should make the playlist for each progression then we’ll sell it to David and split the proceeds 60/40 myself being 60 of course 😅

[@fire2k11]

​@Shahar Har-Shuv That song can be in multiple lists. Hopefully the first song in each list is a "pure" example so your ear can pick it out of the mixed songs.

[@pierreyveshuet1763]

So surprised that Fatboy Slim's "Praise You" doesn't appear in the last chord progression examples (IV/I/V/V), as David literally played it on the piano!

[@Sean_Piper]

Yep, came here to see if anyone else had commented this

[@tonybates7870]

I found myself singing along to Praise You assuming he was gonna mention it!

[@rafaelpera1027]

That is literaly the song he played to demonstrate the progression !!!!

[@rafaelpera1027]

Good song

[@gideonk123]

Hats off to Fatboy Slim, but let’s also praise the source: “Take yo’ praise” by Camille Yarbrough

[@deliusmyth5063]

“Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Joe Jackson was my introduction to the first sequence. You can also hear it in Billy Joel's “It's Still Rock and Roll To Me”.

[@acpe]

BIG shoutout to ALL patrons keeping alive this AMAZING music education channel. Keep on rockin' David!

[@mason87104]

I really like this "chord progressions and why they work" series of videos David, please keep 'em coming!

[@ev1324]

Thank you so much David, every time I watch any of your videos always blows my mind. You are such an amazing teacher.

[@EricMakingWaves]

I made a google doc of all these popular chord progressions so I could have them all in one place at a glance. Thanks for all this. It's been such a good tool to practice with as a guitar player. Plus it's so good for writing new music--especially for more generic pieces for background in videos.

[@monsieurmitosis]

I think another reason why the I-V-bVII-IV progression works is because a descending line cliche is implied. The C in the C, the B in the G, the Bb in the Bb and the A in the F. I use this progression in one of my original songs and I think it's my favourite song that I've ever done. I give credit to the progression itself.

[@trombonedavid1]

I thought of this too. It’s a neat hidden chromatic line

[@Qajaqs4real]

My favorite examples of the I V bVII IV progression are Hey Hey What Can I Do, Celebration Day, both by Led Zeppelin and also One Rainy Wish by Hendrix. It’s also just my favorite chord progression in general

[@thezachmarsh]

My favourite I V bVII IV is probably Tunnel of Love. That progression just gives the tune so much drive.

[@slimhazard]

The “chord progressions” series has been very impressive, it‘s very revealing how different artists have made use of these musical ideas. No way, or so I would have thought, could Lou Reed and ”Turning Japanese” and the Cranberries have anything in common. Well, shows what I know.

[@spongebabe27]

I got a David Bennett piano app ad on a David Bennett piano video Love it

[@wyattstevens8574]

If the 5 chord of the first progression were minor instead, it would just be another rotation of the Plagal Cascade that you haven't talked about yet! By the way, love that you used OK Go as an example for that one- I've never looked at that chord progression so closely. Besides, I don't think I realized that Do-Re-Mi used sequence.

[@thecoldwarcowboy]

That Tokens song, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, goes back to a song called Mbube by Solomon Linda in the late 1930s in South Africa. It was so influential that it became the namesake for an entire genre of music that is being performed today.

[@jacobkilstrom]

When you just talked about the last chord progression, it actually sounded like a rather common variation of The Mixolydian Vamp; bVII-IV-I-I, which is the same chord in the relative mixolydian scale (if it's written as F-C-G-G, it's just a question of wether C or G is the Tonic chord). Maybe that chord progression deserves a video about how the choice of tonic totally changes how it sounds. Example of songs where it sounds very mixolydian: AC/DC - It's a Long Way to The Top (the third title repeat in the chorus), David Bowie - Heroes (the chorus), Chear - Love Hurts (when she sings the title) and The Rolling Stones - Doom and Gloom (the prechorus).

[@jeromesnail]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@wellurban]

Yes, it’s interesting to me that some of the examples sounded like the last two bars were the tonic, whereas a few of them sounded more like the dominant chord as David described it. I guess the interpretation has a lot to do with bass motion, melodic contour and wider context. But if I play F-C-G-G with a pedal bass, using G as the bass sounds a lot more comfortable to me than using C as the bass, which suggests to me the Mixolydian interpretation rather than a IV-I-V-V one.

[@liquidsolids9415]

I was just about to write the same comment!

[@haleys_hus]

praise you by fatboy slim?

[@Endrushmi]

that's the only way I hear it. The I chord in the video never sounds resolved.

[@brain-thomas]

I've heard so many cool songs here in the mixolydian scale, I think I'll write a song in mixolydian when my current ones are done. Thank you, David, for all the explanations of how and why these things work!

[@niestuete]

While listening to David playing the piano for the last progression I was already thinking: "Yeah, that's 'Praise you'! It's definitely going to be the first example!" :D

[@harrylexx]

same here

[@seancowan685]

Zero filler! What a fantastic channel!

[@KMn048]

I can’t think of where at the moment but I have definitely heard the first progression used as a way to extend the ending of other songs, where after the song resolves instead of ending it plays this progression just to add a little more power to the ending. It’s such a satisfying resolution

[@rileyjones3703]

I'm a drummer but started playing guitar about a couple years ago and up till I recently came past this channel never really had a basic understanding of chord progressions which I struggled with getting into guitar. Since discovering this channel, I'm finding it's getting better slowly but surely. Thank you for this wonderful content my brother.

[@robertpien8708]

This helps so much ty to be able to connect songs to chords progressions and the emotions they give us is priceless. This is the foundation that drives all music . So the melody and rythem can flow freely over them .

[@lim7lim]

Loved hearing your own noodling around on every chord progression. Your playing was beautiful, and gave a pure sense of the chord progression, which can be camouflaged by the song examples you bring, because there is so much happening in them in terms of instruments and background noise, in such a short snippet of time.

[@guprovasi]

I’m always surprised when I see how many great songs share the same chord progression 😊👏🏻

[@mu6best]

that's why you can't copyright a chord progression, only the lyrics and melody

[@Autumnblueskies1]

Hey man, just wanted to say you did a great job on Popmaster, you had some really hard questions and a brutal choice of bonuses! In other news, your KZbin channel is great too!

[@blazingaqua9127]

Another couple of examples of the I V bVII IV progression is Fat Old Sun by Pink Floyd and Dean Town by Vulfpeck Great video as always

[@NBrixH]

Hell yeah, i love playing Fat Old Sun, very satisfying to play.

[@blazingaqua9127]

@@NBrixH Yeah its such a great tune to jam, David Gilmour's live in Gdansk solo is one of his best as well

[@andrewpappas9311]

Always loved that Pink Floyd song, Gilmour's solo at the end is so good

[@derekgusoff6768]

the chorus of comfortably numb also. "There is no pain..."

[@richardrichard5409]

Brilliant as usual, thanks for the upload😎

[@composer7325]

Excellent, David thank you for the upload.

[@tiffanywilson4662]

Your music repertory is very much impressive!

[@philparker97]

I came here after listening to you on PopMaster - quite a useful channel! 👍

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks for stopping by! Shame I didn’t get any Beatles questions today 😂😆

[@louispacetime1576]

Loved the examples!! Really great way to see the versatility of each one!

[@richarddurham7111]

Always love your vids and you really opened my musical mind with the brighter/darker (or cooler) take on modes - so much so that I guessed mixolydian by ear, which is a first for me.

[@catejames6453]

Brilliant breakdown David. Absolutely spot on.

[@joshc5613]

I was trying to remember where else I'd heard the IV-I-V-V progression; I think the solo section from Jumper by Third Eye Blind uses that progression (or at least some variation). Great video btw :)

[@itsstm480]

This is personally my favorite series on this channel like honestly speaking🙂 At least I don't have to replay the songs I wanna play a thousand times just to find out which progressions they use *AND* plus some of these progressions are pretty great🎹☆ so they're quite fun to use during my practice sessions😁 Really appreciate the effort u make in creating such educating stuff like this man. Thanks a bunch!

[@kekcsi]

Wow. I never noticed what's common in all my favourite songs. I'm a simple person, turns out. I hear I-V-bVII-IV, I like it.

[@jrpipik]

These videos are so well made. Well done!

[@bernardthedisappointedowl6938]

Great video as ever David, appreciate the work you put into these - thanks my friend, ^oo^

[@jonathanfenton5496]

One of my favorite songs with the I V bVII IV chord progression is "Never my love" by the Association. nice to see a variety of decades and artists, especially a group like Blink 182 from my youth.

[@motox296]

This is the first time Ive seen your videos, thankful for your experience and expertise. Subscribed :)

[@Crazy_Diamond_75]

IV I V V has a very hopeful/aspirational sound to it. Because it's all major, you're always looking up. But because it doesn't end on the tonic, it gives this feeling that you're just not quite "there."

[@VanNessy97]

And yet IV-vi-V-V carries the exact opposite intonation. Your eyes don't look so truthful anymore...

[@goodlookingcorpse]

Thanks for doing another one of these. I've found them really useful for my own music.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I'm glad you like them!

[@kenreeve32]

Thank you, David. You're such an amazing theory teacher!

[@idreamofgenie2599]

I really appreciated the approach you took on this video, David. You explained the concepts in simple words for a guy like me who doesn't really understand music theory, and laid out why these chord progressions work in so many songs. Modes like phyrigian and mixolydian make an appearance here, but your mentioning them doesn't detract from my basic understanding of the chord progressions you're describing. In commenting on a few recent videos of yours, I've expressed my bewilderment at your explanation of some of the more advanced concepts like modes. I don't want or expect you to stop talking about advanced music theory concepts, but I hope you will also continue to make videos to explain music for those of us who are "less advanced" in our understanding of music theory. I'm guessing I'm probably not the only one. Thanks!

[@liquidsolids9415]

Fantastic explanation and examples, as usual. Thanks!

[@1oolabob]

The I V flatVII IV progression gave me epiphanies; each of the example songs have a different sound and feel, even though they share a chord progression. I also thought of the intro of Steely Dan's "Peg", which uses that same chord movement. So, if I'm really working my composing game, I could get my own unique sound from this kind of cadence. Not every chord progression gives me that sense. This is an excellent music theory lesson, David, and you're an exceptional educator.

[@momogris6159]

Excellent lesson as always 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@joyflowmonger248]

Extrordinarily valuable to me. As usual!

[@mgregory22]

Yeah, Remember Tomorrow! That's one of my favorite songs ever! I love this channel!!

[@jamesdominguez7685]

I think it's worth noting that in Western popular music, songs that use I-II-V and I-IV-I-V will often add a little bit of dissonance and sonic interest by using the V7. One common pattern I've noticed in a lot of old standards is switching back and forth between the straight V and the V7 from one chord phrase to the next. It's so common that a lot of beginner piano students will learn G7 before learning G. (I know I did!)

[@marcnevins9491]

Thank you, that was very helpful

[@tonyblue1]

Always great content David - 👍👍👍

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😎😎

[@fredparadisogroup]

You rock mate. THANK YOU! 🙏

[@umalguemai5628]

Another example of I-IV-I-V is I Don't Know My Name by Grace VanderWall, it was the first song I learned on the guitar and it's still the only chord progression i can identify ksksk

[@RDL1984]

Another one: Why don't you get a job? from the Offspring

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Nice Job Dave. Another Good tutorial.

[@coolblue5929]

Gorgeous tone mate.

[@wolfrayet25music_official]

My suggestions for more common chord progressions. 1. i - bIII - bVI - bVII 2. i - bVII - bIII - bVI 3. i - bVII - iv - iv 4. i - bVI - bVII - v

[@TheKiteless]

I always learn something from these videos. Never heard of "sequencing" before, but it made a lot of sense. I did notice that the IV / I / V / V progression near the end is used for the Cinematic Orchestra's "Build a Home". I transcribed it to guitar a couple of years ago, and I use D/F# / A/E / E !

[@stevenking4617]

The 1, 5, flat 7, 4 was used in a super Nintendo game that I loved as a kid, and once I figured out what it was, I started noticing it everywhere! So it's one of my favorites, glad you led with it

[@ChappyMonster]

What was the game called?

[@stevenking4617]

@@ChappyMonster Uniracers! Once you earned a medal, it was the victory song.

[@wmheric]

In the I V bVII IV progression, if you use inversions of the V and the IV chord, you can have a chromatic bass line like C-B-Bb-A :)

[@freddiebozwell7049]

Loving the chord progression videos.

[@andrewwanless9288]

Love your channel. Also you did well on pop master today! Tough questions!

[@ShowWithNoName]

If you ever make another one, make sure to mention the Midnight City chords: IV - vi - V - ii. It sounds great and is in plenty of songs.

[@tjk_9000]

love these vids!

[@gerardobecher9404]

Something interesting about the first progression, I - V - bVII - IV is that it allows a chromatic descending melody over it: I - VII - bVII - VI (in C it would be C - B - Bb A). And, if you reorder the progression starting from the third chord, you get an ascending cycle of fifths sequence bVII - IV - I - V (Bb - F - C - G).

[@robster7316]

Very useful segment. Thanks, David!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks! 😃

[@jason_andropolis]

Thanksgiving is coming up, and I just wanted to say I am thankful for David Bennett!

[@anthonysilva5312]

These videos are GOLD! Loaded with many practical applications … so good! You should create a cadence ear training course. Seriously 🇨🇦

[@rjmarlow8229]

I V bVII IV is such an amazing chord progression! Two great songs that use this progression: Bee Karma - Wand Amor Fati - Washed Out

[@gopalshekar986]

Yes! "Comfortably Numb " by Pink Floyd is another terrific song using this progression

[@tylernardone3788]

Fantastically helpful video, clear and concise

[@jim90272]

This is soooo interesting - very cool!!

[@philipkudrna5643]

It‘s incredible where he gets all these examples from! Very impressive. As for the last chord progression, I would have actually always watched it as bVII - IV - I - I (instead of IV - I - V - V), but I believe IV - I - V - V makes more sense. And again: great examples! Actually eye opening!

[@franktaylor7978]

I always thought of this first I-V-bVII-IV as two plagals descending by a tone/step

[@christopherfryda]

Love this channel!!!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😊😊

[@TheDoctorDevo]

Heard you on Radio 2 today ‘pop master’ got to say, you had some tough questions. Bad luck.Keep up the great work on your channel , really enjoy your break down of the songs.

[@janAlekantuwa]

I love the forward driving force behind the I/ii/IV/V progression and think it works perfectly in punk songs

[@Brett.Williams365]

Great video. Thank you.

[@pizza2262]

Amazing video as always, i would say that the "phrygian vamp" would be seen as a iii - IV progression (for example Em - F in the key of C major), but your analysis works just as well!

[@kevinr.9733]

Describing the "sequence" aspect of the first progression made me realize that it could very easily be extended out to an 8-bar progression by following it up with bVII / bIII / two bars of V. Gives a nice chromatic walkdown from I to V. I'm, like, 90% sure I've heard that used somewhere, but I have no idea where.

[@EarlOfMaladyCrescent]

WHOOHOO! 😃 A chord pattern I've suggested in the comments to two previous videos in this series has finally made it in! (It's the second one you talked about; I ii IV V ).

[@standardofexcellence]

guys actually a really good teacher, because although I know music inside and out I'm self taught but can't read music and he makes this comprehensive

[@rome8180]

One thing you didn't mention in the first progression was the descending chromatic movement within it. Let's say we play it in the key of D. The progression would be D-A-C-G. But within those chords you've got D-C#-C-B. So four half steps. Any time your progression has that kind of line cliche within it, it's going to have a natural flow.

[@therealshavenyak]

Came here just to say this. To actually add something to the discussion: If you play the progression on electric guitar with a power chord for the I, then scoot the root down to become the 3rd of the V chord, then repeat for the bVII and IV chords, you end up with Hold On Loosely by 38 Special or Overkill by Men at Work.

[@aldeayeah]

A close relative to the Phrygian Vamp is the Phrygian Dominant/Double Harmonic/Flamenco vamp, I bII

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci beaucoup for this. Your channel inspired me to start learning the piano 6 months after my retirement and a life of thinking I was not musical. My joke was that I was born with two left ears. But you're making me dance, David.

[@613steven]

Ben Lee, Catch My Disease! Love that song, and thank you for teaching me it’s I-ii-IV-V. Had been playing it as I-vi-IV-V because my novice guitar brain is so stuck on those 4 chords. Same for 99 luftballoons. Lucky for me ii is also an easy open guitar chord (in G or C).

[@boomerbear7596]

Now for a video game example! The Phrygian vamp evokes for me images of Super Metroid's Red Brinstar area. It's just right to capture the foreboding atmosphere as you get into the real meat and potatoes of the game and the difficulty increases dramatically. As it is a chord equivalent of the Jaws interval of a repeating minor second, it works rather well for that feeling of dread.

[@seanonel]

Orinoco Flow with their Sail Away was the first song I thought of when he started playing the IV-I-V-V progression...

[@BillMcGirr]

Yet another cool video. Breaking theory into little bites that are easily understood. Good stuff.💪👍🥃🎸

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks 👍

[@octavienhan]

Hi David, not sure if you already have this in the pipeline but I think a video on songs that use the minor plagal cadence would be cool! Love your videos I’ve learned so much through your content

[@Petch85]

I love this type of videos about chord progressions. Maybe make one about chord progressions longer than 4 bars. I think that could be interesting.

[@AlternativeSack123]

It’s not so common in more recent music but a great one used a lot in older jazz tunes is the Bird blues, variations of it can be found in a lot of jazz standards and even Yesterday by the Beatles

[@bradleyconrad678]

I find the IV-I-V progression interesting. Whether you feel the V cord as a dominant often depends on the melody. It can just as easily be a bIIII-bVIiI-I. I suppose it matters whether the I is major or minor ((i) in this context. But without the melodic song examples,I heard that “V”chord as a “I” chord.. there are plenty of examples of this in the rock realm, even where the “I” isn’t an explicit or implied minor.

[@lastdaysguitar]

Hope you are doing well, David - you put a lot into this work!

[@zappababe8577]

Either you have an encyclopedic knowledge of music or you do an absolute shed load of research for every video you make! How on Earth do you find so many examples of songs which demonstrate the chord progressions you wish to discuss? I don't think it's the kind of thing you can Google very well. Fair play to you, Mr Bennett, well done for putting these videos together to educate us lesser mortals

[@ajfalo-fi3721]

He explained that once

[@slidenaway]

yeah I'm sure some of it is off the top of his head but he's mentioned a sheet music database or something that he searches

[@standardofexcellence]

music theory and a mental database works for me

[@frankzelazko]

Our favourite music teacher

[@hellomynameisjoenl]

I know it’s basic, but I - V - ♭VII - IV is my favourite chord progression. Some of my favourite tunes using the progression are Constants are Changing by Boards of Canada, Small by Lamb, Sugar Hiccup by Cocteau Twins, and Cherub Rock by The Smashing Pumpkins.

[@Sosogami]

you‘re incredible! :D Love your videos, I‘m going to recommend your channel to a friend of mine who‘s studying musicology.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Great 😊

[@Thebigkeoghowski]

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison was the 1st song I thought of for the I-IV- I-V progression. I find it coincidentally satisfying it was the first example you used for it.

[@RDL1984]

A fastly recognized example of the Phrygian vamp (i-bII) is Bowie's Space Oddity intro.....

[@ReikiBarbosa]

Great video bro 🔥

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you! 😊