Songs to help you recognise chords in a progression

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks to Hooktheory for sponsoring this video. Use this link to get 20% off lifetime access to Hooktheory's amazing resources: www.hooktheory.com/davidbennett 🎼 And catch *PART 2* of this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jorZYX9mdt6Cnqs 🎵🎼🎹

[@DeKevers]

Use the link guys :)

[@bernardthedisappointedowl6938]

"Back and forth to the fourth chord" - truly, you are turning to the punning side of the force - no bad thing of course, ^oo^

[@jackthesmoltangerine]

Lol Also this is the video that gave me a Radiohead addiction

[@liorbokerer]

Hey David I wanted to buy the software with your link, but there is mo lifetime access. The deal is to be billed annually. Can you help?

[@NeonRadarMusic]

Man, David. I was trying to explain this to a kid recently and I simply couldn't explain it as wonderfully as you did. Keep inspiring not only musicians, but also teachers :)

[@tatjbere]

Perfect examples, never get tired of the Beatles and Radiohead and some surprises 😄

[@DaniloSilva-pl3sq]

there was no surprises here...

[@bonzods]

@@DaniloSilva-pl3sq and no alarms either

[@tatjbere]

@@DaniloSilva-pl3sq I didn't expect White Rabbit for instance

[@matthammond3563]

@@tatjbere I literally had whiplash when he revealed the last example was White Rabbit and not Pyramid Song lol

[@MuffinssiEA98]

@@matthammond3563 same

[@Tzadeck]

This is probably one of the more useful music theory videos on KZbin I've seen . Thanks dude.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Wow, thanks!

[@mateusbmedeiros]

Hey David, just wanna let you know (if you ever read this comment, that is) that this is one of the worst problems I never knew I had when building my chord progressions. With those nice examples of songs that make effects of different chord changes on their respective context clear, I started to memorize the feelings of each change and now when writing I can think of the effect I want and search around there instead of trying random chords. Thank you very much for this invaluable content.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you! I'm really glad you found the video helpful 🤩

[@brawln9550]

This is the exact type of video I was looking for. Im trying to train my ear to recognize specific chord progressions and remember songs with certain chord progressions because I think it will help me alot. Thanks for the video :)

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Excellent!

[@fantasticflyingfrogs]

I am a music teacher, and your popular chord progression videos have been so helpful to me. Thanks, and if you feel like making more of those, I will love them!

[@Anton-fn3cd]

Great video. I think "Hey There Delilah" would be another good example for the iii chord :)

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Good example!

[@jamesrodriguez3593]

Also that evanessence song was the first example that came through my head as he played the chords

[@joergstoye695]

Another good trick to audiate I-iii may be "[I] Ground control to Major [iii] Tom" early in Space Oddity. Note also that the analogous line is harmonized I-III7 later, making it sound extra bright (I think) because expectations had been set..

[@simonjohnston3100]

@@jamesrodriguez3593 My Immortal? Beautiful song!

[@jamesrodriguez3593]

@@simonjohnston3100 exactly haha i forgot the name of that tune

[@reillywalker195]

Another good example of the I-III chord function is in "Stand by Me" by Oasis. Its main progression starts with G followed by B7.

[@smeerkees123]

The chorus of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' by The Beatles (George Harrison) helps me recognize the I - III progression. The Chords are also A to C#m. Some fifths are used aswell in the chorus!

[@bassesatta9235]

Its also in the chorus of something (A to C#m)

[@ILoveMagic15]

That would rather be the I - iii progression.

[@jdawg6939]

WMGGW is I-V-I-V-ii-V

[@barthurschmorgan]

@@jdawg6939?

[@danielfcamerop7270]

Freaking amazing!!! Basic knowledge of music in youtube is getting better and better every day because of kind souls like you. I deeply appreciate it 💖

[@rome8180]

"I Want to Tell You" is another Beatles example that uses the major two chord. One of my favorite Beatles songs.

[@chrisjordan3493]

This was so helpful! I love how you would continue to explain how it’s normally done vs. what you could change. I was able to follow the whole time.

[@mlasch1478]

David, my friend, Ray posted this in our Guitar forum. Not only he, but myself and many other of our members really liked your presentation. Thank you.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you! I’m glad you like it 😀 Which Ray are you referring to? Thanks!

[@louiseogden1296]

The latter part of the video about less common chord functions is amazing -- it is how I choose my favourite songs. That dissonance gets me going emotionally and physically and those are the songs I just feel most while listening to. It's cool to know precisely what I'm responding to when listening.

[@theju3939]

I love that you add the Beatles in all your videos

[@RoWiBa]

I’ve played music for 30 years and your videos are the absolute best explanations I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing

[@biancabasjes3775]

I instantly thought of perfect day when you started talking about the iv chord!

[@TheKiteless]

I must admit I'd never had thought a I > v progression would sound as sweet as that! Colour me surprised

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I love that move! It's very mixolydian! You'll hear it in 'Clocks' by Coldplay

[@TheKiteless]

@@DavidBennettPiano Having been playing guitar for over 30 years, delving into music theory since 2018 has opened my eyes to how clever Coldplay and The Beatles were in their compositions.

[@SvintMvrcus]

IV-iv-I is one of my fav progressions of all time

[@vprajapa]

I have been following David for a while and David keeps outdoing himself. I follow many youtubers that do similar things but David makes it very accessible and bitesize. I always learn something very clearly out of his every video.

[@zozikfreeman9403]

Thank you, David. That was another marvellous lesson. Always a pleasure watching you teach.

[@EduardoSilva-sm2df]

I/ bII is used in flamenco very often. Thanks for share your theory knowledge! 😊

[@trep53]

Music has to be one the most advanced accomplishments of humankind. So I must not be human since I don’t understand anything David is saying, but I do love the music. I’m glad he understands it and tries to explain the music for me.

[@theavitaravitar1884]

As a guitarist, I've learned so much musical theory from you. I thank you immensely!

[@jacobevanoski1221]

I always thought Sympathy for the Devil was a wonderful use of the bVII chord. As always, great work!

[@bryanchandler3486]

Pretty much any mixolydian song is going to have that flat 7. Like Saturday night's all right for fighting for example which actually is an interesting case because it modulates back and forth between two keys between the verse and the chorus

[@bryanchandler3486]

Oh and the outro for Hey Jude is another great example!

[@victorwilburn8588]

Pretty common in rock, that mixolydian feel. Sweet Child O' Mine as well. Same I-bVII-IV chord progression, just in D instead of E.

[@jacobevanoski1221]

@@victorwilburn8588 Thanks bro, I didn't know about Sweet Child O' Mine having the same chords! I always liked Sympathy for the Devil as an example because of the piano clearly outlining the I-bVII-IV.

[@victorwilburn8588]

@@jacobevanoski1221: Yep, now you can listen to both and hear the same chord functions. :) And the Slash riff is outlining the chords in the case of Sweet Child, in a way the emphasizes and links common notes between the chords. I had always interpreted such songs as starting on the V and being V-IV-I progressions, until fairly recently when I started learning about the use of mixolydian in rock. Basically major with a flatted seventh, to go with the common use of dominant 7th chord in the roots of rock rather than the maj7 chord. I think it was Paul Davids' video on Johnny B. Goode that turned me on to this (that song does just use a basic I-IV-V blues progression, but he's playing the mixolydian scale over it, with blue notes added).

[@ashwin_ramakrishnan]

These videos are so well made with the chord charts shown on screen. Thanks for the great videos!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@evertvandenberghe]

Hear hear!!

[@Traceleeholland]

You can also use a minor4 chord right after the major 4. Radio head does it on creep, G B major C major now C minor. Beatles used that a lot too when they wrote! Great Video

[@pmstudios3501]

This is the most brilliant channel on You Tube! The entire world should be grooving to this knowledge instead of finding reasons to attack each other. Sorry if that was too heavy.

[@robster7316]

Very helpful to hear how these progressions sound in popular songs we are familiar with. Thanks David!

[@yes1635]

How do your videos just come at the right time i swearrr

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😀😀🤩🤩

[@anna_young]

I will forever love the iv chord, especially in a IV iv I progression. I've seen it in this progression many times too, and loved it every time: I, Iadd#5, I6, I7, IV, iv, I. Just so beautiful

[@dangerkeith3000]

yeah VI vi I has a great sound. and a good way to walk down chromatically with the 3rds of the first two, and the fifth of the last. e.g. C Cm G ~~~ notes E Eb D

[@bryanchandler3486]

Ending of the main Super Mario theme uses the major 4 minor 4 major 1 progression!

[@user-jo7gu1vp6x]

Yeah i love that too! One particular i like is when it happens in Desperado by the Eagles

[@scottmiller1300]

Jar of hearts chorus I V vi IV iv (Christina Perri)

[@sparerodinog3760]

@Anna Young can u give some examples?

[@micah_lee]

I’ve been playing piano for 10+ years and have never understood the basis of the roman numerals. Never knew how they were derived. It is so simple. Thank you

[@JosephMensman]

Just a few extra examples I’d like to add- I - IV a good example is The Second Line by Stop, Inc (most New Orleans street jazz will work, but a lot of them are I7 - IV7 I - vi Scar Tissue, although there is a brief V in between them I - bVII Sweet Child o Mine, which has the same chord progression as Hey Jude

[@jonnybigmuff]

David, thank you for another great video. My ear is getting so much better finally. I’m pushing back on your Beatles answer re: Theory. You said that they didn’t know they were using a line cliche or secondary dominant turnaround because they lacked the theory language and knowledge to describe what they were certainly doing.” However, your vector reflects a backwards arrogance. Suppose that they knew exactly what they were doing but it is YOU who needs a language and system of understanding THEM. Theory is your tool to unlock their musical box but it was never designed unfulfilled of its essence. “If only the Beatles knew even more theory, would your relationship to their music deepen? Would their music change? you can prove a triangle using algebra or geometry but all you need to execute and draw it, … is a pencil. Cheers and thank you for your excellent work.

[@milodineve]

i finally understand what's with the roman numbers, god bless your soul man :")

[@omersetty5155]

Gravity by John Mayer is another great example of I-ii (G-Am) in the intro

[@wingerman4677]

No, gravity is a great example of the I - II. The one and a major two. Its G-C.

[@omersetty5155]

@@wingerman4677 In the intro you can clearly hear an A note on the second chord. It's Am. After a few seconds, when the lead guitar comes in, it becomes G-C with an A note in the C chord, which becomes C6 (so the rest of the verses are G-C6 [I-IV6]). Check me

[@wingerman4677]

@@omersetty5155 ur right

[@jorggortemaker]

I can't be the only one who heard F# Maj, G Maj and thought: "100% the next song is gonna be pyramid song"

[@sarpgurakan3258]

It would be awesome if you made a video to explain the "function" or "effect" certain musical structures are used for. (WHY does White Rabbit use the root-BII progression for the entire song? To give a sense of a psychedelic high? To unease the audience? etc) Love your vids!

[@MyNameIsNeutron]

You'd probably have to ask Grace Slick about that

[@gorgolyt]

I'd say it gives it a feeling of laziness and dormancy, and that makes sense because it's the least possible amount of motion between chords (a semitone). But it also sounds somewhat tense and threatening, which can be explained because the semitone is a dissonant interval.

[@sylvernale]

@@MyNameIsNeutron Death of the author?

[@AexisRai]

This is what I expected from this video and didn't get. This video is just a list of the _names of_ the chord functions, not a list of the functions. Obviously V is the name of the chord built on the fifth which shows up in Hey Jude - what's it _doing_ there?

[@gorgolyt]

@@AexisRai Resolving to the tonic.

[@andypearce5537]

Thank you for doing this video.

[@sylvainleotard7340]

Hallelujah intro is another good example of I - vi back & forth, also Sitting on the dock of the bay works well with I-III just like Creep

[@shadehunter]

I love your content. But I was watching it with my guitar in my lap. Every time you'd start with the first two chords, I couldn't help but play the rest of the progression out. Remind me to watch this video again when I don't have an instrument in my hand. Lolol! Thank you for what you do. Always a pleasure to watch your channel.

[@dario110011]

Great video! As a rhythm guitarist, I'm always on the lookout for some cool chord progressions to play along with to a song or even mess around and make my own chord progressions. I'll definitely use some of these ideas the next time I play! Cheers.

[@Mezilesialan]

What a pleasure ! Superb David.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Cheers!

[@jamesbaynton1881]

I love the idea that some of your viewers have now heard White Rabbit for the first time and literally go down a trippy rabbit hole.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Such an excellent song!

[@ofkhod3638]

I'd also recommend learning the sharp diminished fourth because it's used quite often and has a very distinct sound (used in many Ray Charles classics and in Still Crazy for example)

[@th.nd.r]

The closing music you did over the Patrons was BEAUTIFUL

[@vinaychhetri6023]

Hey. David these videos are works of art.

[@jordanwise73]

People who add timers to their adds deserve all the subs

[@DeKevers]

The *vi* is my favourite of the major scale. It creates such a melancholic and resolved feeling.

[@Lefty7788tinkatolli]

It sounds so resolved because it's basically the tonic chord of the relative minor key.

[@nugboy420]

Me as a teen kid. 1564 is the blink 182 progression lmao

[@TheDrummerbadboy]

This channel is such a gem

[@edoardosattanino]

You told me in 15 mins what I was looking for since years ago So clearly man, thank you

[@christhacker9450]

Thanks, David. Great video. I particularly love the I to iv change. Very melancholic.

[@christianbechhenriksen898]

Also John Williams really love the II (major 2nd) chord in his music. Especially the I - II - IV - I progression just like the Beatles 😊

[@Kirk1914]

Really great for ear training. Keep up the good work. Much appreciated.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Cheers!

[@DaveMullenJnr]

Great video! Thank you. One thing worth mentioning about the production is that when you cut to a black screen to show the roman numeral and then back to your bright white room, it hurt my eyes every time.

[@swayme67]

Quality tools cost money and more often than not, are well worth the extra money on the price tag. Glad you didn't apologize for the price and thank you for explaining why you priced it as it is. Well worth the money in my opinion and I plan on buying one soon!

[@high-defRJ]

When thinking of I-v chord progression, as a pianist, I think of Ben Folds' song, Army (though the progression is I-v-IV-I). The tune is in key of A-flat major with solo section going into F minor, but I also treat it as a D-flat major tune.

[@Goonercry]

hope you do a series about predicting the chord prgression in term of chord function rather than chord name. THanks.

[@reggiehalstead2070]

The Universal by Blur is a better example of the use of A & C#m because it keeps repeating it. In fact Blur like to use the iii chord in a lot of their songs.

[@Save_Train]

seeing this video at 12:15 AM legit gave me many ideas. Excited to work with these. I've always "heard" it while playing, but good to see where it derives from. Thank you for this!

[@roman_birdie_songwriter]

I just love your videos. Sometimes a bit challenging for me, because I don't know the theory at all :D but slowly getting there. Thank you David :)

[@BrotherhoodEssentials]

Montero ( Call me by your name ) is a very good example for b II chord progression : Eb => E

[@Wintermute666]

Thanks David. I'm a novice, just dabbling, but your clear explanations really help me grasp the underlying structure of music I love

[@thearcheriskind]

I was so happy when you said White Rabbit as your example for the minor 2 chord, I immediately thought of it when you played that chord progression.

[@J-W_Grimbeek]

Thanks to recent experiences, and a well-timed video by Charles Cornell, iv is by far my favourite chord. Especially if you use the 2nd instead of the root (or does that just make it a iib5? idk)

[@roaldgranlund4148]

A diminished ii-chord is very similar to the minor iv-chord. If you make it a half-diminished chord, it is identical to a iv6-chord.

[@waltz251]

the 2nd... of the iv? ie (no F)-G-Ab-C like an Fm9? or root as in a C chord like F-Ab-D (no C) like an Fm6

[@brawln9550]

So you mean instead of the f you play a g? Like g-a-c? If im not mistaken that would be considered a gsus2 chord. Im still learning as well so somebody please correct me if I am wrong :)

[@waltz251]

@@brawln9550 it would be an Ab

[@brawln9550]

@@waltz251 how is g-a-c chord considered Ab? Isn't Ab a black key? How would you get that from g-a-c? I'm not arguing im genuinely curious as that doesn't make sense to me and I'm trying to learn

[@TheHesseJames]

Now I know why I always loved White Rabbit! It’s basically I II Phrygian, the same as the Flamenco Buleria only in 4/4 instead of 3/4. Both have this „taking your strides in pride“ or „marching to the battle“ feel.

[@looppool]

and, of course, that 'marching to the battle' feel has largely to do with the Bolero styled drumming in the song: it is quintessentially, Martial in style. I love that tune, too, Roland!

[@babawawayoyo]

You’re the best. This was sooooo helpful.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@GaryKatch]

I find that II, III, and VI are often better functionally expressed as secondary dominants, since they have notes outside the scale- i.e. II7, III7 and VI7, work as V7/V, V7/vi, and V7/ii respectively. Thus “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” (D, B, Em, A7, D) becomes I, V7/ii, ii, V7, I.

[@sparerodinog3760]

i know that slash works as a symbol for sec. dominants but isnt it for bass note too? how can we differentiate those 2

[@tabascocat5102]

I actually got all this. But it took me 10 years to learn it myself, through familiarity!

[@boomerdell]

Brilliant lesson, as always, David, and great playing on the keys. Thanks so much!

[@sophovot5079]

I've been waiting for a video like this for like 10 years

[@InventorZahran]

Wayfaring Stranger is a good song for recognizing the i-VI chord change.

[@MyFakeIronTrees]

You Won’t See Me by the Beatles also uses the major 2 chord function (Amaj to Bmaj).

[@NBrixH]

Could you do a video featuring some more Pink Floyd stuff? Maybe you could take a look at “Echoes” it has a beautiful sound, and has some interesting characteristics!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Good idea, I’ll bear it in mind 😀

[@NBrixH]

@@DavidBennettPiano I hope you take a look at it! I think a video about long songs would be good, especially progressive rock songs such as Echoes.

[@DeKevers]

For some reason I write all of my chord progressions in the numeral form, it feels nice. I'm not even into music theory or anything it helps me read music better.

[@wwsciffsww3748]

In a lot of ways its better for writing, especially if you haven't picked a key yet. However depending on what instrument you play, Roman numeral analysis might not work as well because some keys are easier to play in than others. Also, every note on a physical instrument has a unique timbre.

[@DanCap123]

The axis of awesome video will always be one of my favourite

[@ulianasadova7438]

i needed this video for understanding the music

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

That system you're using is also the same, roughly, as the Nashville Number System they used on sheet music in Nashville recording sessions. Staff paper with numbers and lyrics, with the key written on top somewhere.

[@everlygirl7687]

Was thinking the same! Much easier to change keys when you're familiar with this Nashville Numbers.

[@m2svirtual384]

Chord functions in modes - perty please. Thank you! You have a gift of keeping us engaged through somewhat very boring material! Thank you for sharing your gift!

[@allandunn1431]

Thank you, KZbin algorithm for suggesting this. Great video. Subscribed.

[@sonja_rademacher]

It helped a lot that you showed the chord progressions on the piano. I have learned a lot.

[@richardjdbone]

The song that sprang to my mind as a famous example of I > v is 'Porcelain' by Moby. Also, I take it that my taste for the bIII chord is a tad unusual, given its omission here? It's alright; I don't mind having obscure interests! (Incidentally, my example for I > bIII would be Marina's (and her erstwhile Diamonds') 'Froot'.

[@irisjean]

Wow this is so helpful! Thanks :)

[@leftyguitarist8989]

For your next video, Iron Maiden's Remember Tomorrow is a great example of a i-bII progression.

[@wouterdesmedt1736]

I would love to see a similar video on resolving chords - instead of showing how going from the I to various chords sounds like, how coming from various chords going to the I sounds like.

[@Bonmoustache]

Wire frame mattress by the wytches uses flat major second (bII), too

[@GlobalMiles]

Excellent. Nice graphic overlays too.

[@carlospena2622]

thank you david

[@MrVincef1990]

Great video. I'm trying to learn piano and your videos have made a lot of the music make sense.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Glad to hear it!

When you talk about I III, I can't stop thinking about Simply Red's song 'Stars'. I love this video, so sad that I live in Argentina and most of my students don't understand english. I love your chanel!

[@tianoliveira]

I to v --> Moby's Porcelain came to my mind right away!

[@guilhermecampos8313]

For me these references are very strong: I - iii -> My Immortal - Evanescence I - IV -> Chorus from Hanson - MMMBop I - vi -> Very easy to hear the on Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah, right at the start of each verse group

[@powerpop23]

Thanks a ton! I finally think I have got a starting point to learn recognising progressions by ear

[@ChanokchaiChauychoo]

Love this serie. Keep your great work

[@pablosalgaddo]

Great, bring more of this videos.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Will do! 😀

[@1oolabob]

I like the way you demonstrate the feel of different chord movements here. The one-by-one approach gives me a better grasp of how each movement of a chord is like a step to the next thing that happens in the song. Anyway, I'm understanding more of it as I go. Is this just me advancing as a student, or are your teaching skills getting really good too? Nice lesson, Sir!

[@paulwhealy5243]

WOW! Feel like i just got a university course in in chord progressions in about 15 minutes!

[@Kris-Wolverine-Matthews]

Love it David. Keep it up. I've made a point of watching your videos at the piano to follow along and pause to riff a bit. Thanks!