Songs That Start On The IV Chord

[@alexneill8338]

"I'm gonna tonicize this this tonic even more..." that's such a cool expression!

[@jzgtr100]

Played Just Friends on a gig yesterday. I love playing quotes. Summer Samba and Four get quoted over the first two chords, way too often. I drive my bandmates nuts. Can't wait to break out my new When It's Sleepy Time Down South quote. Great video, Amy!

[@drakeholliday5671]

Loved the in-depth analysis on My Love

[@streetlegal008]

These are absolutely my favourite kind of Aimee videos - where she just sits at the piano and thinks her way through the chord progressions of song tunes.

[@AimeeNolte]

Thank you. Always good to know.

[@fivetimesyo]

When I started playing the guitar I I always felt that your videos were too big for me and I was kinda sad. Now, after 10 years, I feel like I've earned them 😌. Thank you, Aimee. An old new subscriber.

[@TomMarvan]

I feel the same way, fivetimesyo. That I have earned an Aimee video, and I have been playing guitar for 35 years (and am a good player). Still, I think it is because there is an appreciation - for the music, for the teacher, for the student. And, for the guitar, because you will never learn everything you need to know about that instrument, and that means there is a lifetime of adventure - and (l)earning - for those who choose to appreciate music.

[@jimfertall8351]

Same!

[@jamesadcock5235]

I am the same it was like I dont get it. But now I get it more like talking about 4ths and 5ths minor 3rds and all that kinda stuff

[@Hesohi]

Same. So much of your content is still a little over my head, but you communicate ideas very well and I can pick up concepts. I can revisit some of your videos and get a little more. Thanks.

[@RobertSaxy]

It’s all about the journey, glad people are enjoying it with me. Congrats everyone for having the bravery to take the road less traveled

[@pabloelguera1161]

Anybody appreciating Paul's music makes me happy

[@miromiro4981]

You are easily the best music KZbinr for musicians. No one else even comes close. You really get what kind of audience you're going for. I feel like a lot of music KZbinrs are caught between "pop theory" videos meant for people with little to no music theory background, and strangely esoteric stuff that doesn't have a lot of room for application. You are making music theory videos for musicians. I love it. It's so clear and direct. You really elevate the platform in a way few people do.

[@xfcane]

what a specific and precise topic.. its a joya we'd say in argentina... lol, love it! Thanks

[@hank1519]

To be so brilliant as a musician also be a great communicator--you have it all!

[@AimeeNolte]

Thank you 😊😊

[@russell_szabados]

@@AimeeNolte you're also an amazing singer. FYI. 😎

[@bobjones1620]

So impressive. Your passion and joy are infectious. Love the British TV too. Thanks

[@michaelmassa283]

I can't tell you enough how valuable videos like this are! Just having you go through these pieces and talk us through changes as you play/provide the examples is literally gold. It reminds me of being in school/lessons and talking through pieces with teachers/friends. Thank you so much for the content!!!

[@AimeeNolte]

I'm so glad!

[@acousticaacousticduo1458]

I always love how you have the ability to explain how music actually works while making us feel even deeper the feelings that made us fall in love with music in the first place. You not only keep the magic in the music while showing us behind the curtain, you deepen our love for it. That is a gift! Thank you for sharing that gift.

[@mrfudd13]

I'm impressed by the breadth of your knowledge of songs and how you love the changes - your videos are like spending time with a friend.

[@niceandslow2]

Aimee, great video. Aside from the technical analysis, which is great, this video shows your emotional intelligence for music. You feel the music the same way I experience it. Nice to see that there are people like you for whom these musical "little things" are a big thing. Machines will never be capable of feeling these feelings. Please keep it up! Greetings from Germany.👍👍👍

[@aaronzacharyreed6163]

When I saw the title, the first song that came to mind was Bridge Over Troubled Water, which also has that minor plagal cadence at the end of the form. This video taught me a variation on that! Whereas Bridge Over Troubled Water goes [IV iv I], the Louis Armstrong tune goes [IV, bVII7, I]... so the minor iv becomes the upper structure of the bVII7!

[@jaykay1053]

Loved that whole exploration of IV. I love that you are brave enough to sing back-to-back with Paul McCartney! You slay it all.

[@DougWard]

Wow. Truly extraordinary. I am going to watch this twelve times. Maybe twenty-three times. There is so much to learn, and you do such a great job of explaining things. Mostly, though, what comes through is your love of music. Thank you so much.

[@AimeeNolte]

So nice!! Thanks Doug!

[@rrobster2851]

The instant I read the title of this video, the first song that came to mind was Ambrosia's "How Much I Feel", written by David Pack. When I play guitar and sing this song in the key of E major, it grabs the attention by starting off with the IV chord (Amaj7) and then goes to the I chord (Emaj7). I noticed the intro, the verse, and the chorus all start with the IV chord in this song. The the first half of the bridge switches to the minor chords (vi, iii, ii) which sounds great too. Nice video here! Thanks!

[@trevorl.burgess4279]

I love this video. That 4 chord with a little pick up on the intro and then a smooth landing on the 1. That got me.

[@ClydeneBalkeMusic]

I love how you explain and talk about music theory.

[@WilliamSaadGuitar]

You are amazing Aimee...Thank you for all the knowledge you are sharing with such enthusiasm... My Love is a great example. Close To You is one of my favourite songs starting on IV.

[@bigsby1]

The intro to Wichita Lineman starts on F, with a progression that goes between I and V a couple of times before the verse comes in with the Bb. This establishes F as the tonic (and the Bb at the top of the verse as the IV), even though it never resolves to F again, not even at the end of the song. It's so brilliant the way it moves seamlessly through different tonal centers. But no question, the verse is heard as starting on the IV chord. Great video!

[@MrDarktunes]

You give all these wonderful examples and I never realized they started on IV. Thank you.

[@Chesterton7]

Beautiful run-thru of Sleepy Time.

[@sandrocavali9810]

This video opens so many dimensions in an otherwise predictable universe

[@jamesconger8509]

Your love of music is contagious.

[@staatsanwaltschaftemskirch4709]

I love using the prolonged IV because you can create a strong pull with a Lydian vibe

[@gitpickergeorge9]

So glad you have taken the effort to place such wonderful videos on You tube. Have watched a number of your clips. You do so well in conveying these principles of music. How user friendly! You are a huge benefit to true music lovers, Aimee... Subscribed!

[@Thecovebandatx]

so cool! I agree that the effect is definitely that "you want more"..

[@kennethbrein2037]

Aimee, I play guitar but I still learn so much from you. Thank you!

[@vitulano]

Thanks for this Aimee. I love your vibe. Best for you.

[@DojoOfCool]

I used to hang around songwriter a lot on the past and they called this "trying to make the IV sound like I" . That Just Friends you said when from IV to IVmi7 to bVII7 to I that's the classic Backdoor 2-5-1 that's in a lot of Jazz tunes. Fun with Chords!

[@anthonysilva5312]

I think this is first KZbin music video that made me want to cry. Wonderful. Merry Christmas !🇨🇦

[@orna100]

Green green grass of home.... thank you so much Aimee you are a huge inspiration for me

[@lawrenrich6419]

Another guitar player here. I appreciate the approach to music from your piano point of view. Tired of guitar teachers and the endless tired patterns. Your teaching is so accessible and comfortable even for this lesser-than. Thank you.

[@paulross9635]

The song that came to mind immediately was “The Spy Who Loved Me (Nobody does it Better)” by Carly Simon. It also has a memorable pickup.

[@jopo6388]

Guitar player here. Love your delivery and conveyance! So natural and a great player. TOTO also uses this a lot. Big fan of them as well as Metheny. Awesome!

[@ramroid]

Awesome topic!! Always felt this. Never even thought to ask why.

[@jessicaszturmann609]

I love your passion for music. Thank u!

[@flymoon24]

Thankyou Aimee for this very enjoyable video! It certainly inspires me to have a greater understanding about how songs are structured and different ways you can stucture them chord wise and other ways.

[@ewallt]

I liked this video. It gave me an idea that seems to work well, which is if the melody begins on the third degree of the scale (a major seventh of the 4 chord), instead of starting it with the one chord, I start it on the 4 chord, then use the 1 the second time around (not the second chorus, but like the second A in an AABA form), so you’re deferring the establishment of the tonic. So instead of going, say, 1 6 2 5… (and repeating that, or maybe 3 6 2 5 the second time) go 4 2 5sus 5 … then 1 6 2 5 (or maybe 3 6 2 5, and defer the tonic even more). At any rate, it gave me an idea to play with, to reharmonize a tune to start on the 4 chord, and I’ve liked the sound, an idea I wouldn’t have thought of without this video.

[@thealmightycommenter]

Thank you Amy another great video as always. Always really like hearing your picks in these videos. Songs that started on the four always bewitched me as a child (before I knew what the IV was) such a powerful tool. My favourite example is Unfaithful Servant by the Band. The use of the secondary dominants that set the IV up before it comes round again gives the feeling of wanting more that you describe, it also implies movement to me, it feels like the progression has a direction and wants to keep travelling. Amazing how a simple chord can never get old. Big love

[@Jam-m7m]

A big wow…I’m a guitar harmonica mandolin player and this is gold

[@philipcampion386]

Very inspiring Aimée. Thank you so much.

[@neoncroatia]

There's something in watching you enjoy the music. KZbin brought me somehow to this video, and I'm very glad it happened. :)

[@mmikeyhignight8573]

Aimee awsome channel,,awsome lesson on the 4 chord.I love your voice 😊

[@RechtmanDon]

In Western music, the first work that started on a chord other than the tonic raised the ire of the critics who said it was wrong! The work: the opening chord of Beethoven's Symphony No. 1. From a linguistic perspective (familiar music is largely processed in the speech centers of the brain), starting on the tonic is effectively creating a grammatical subject; harmonic movement followed by the return to the tonic constitutes the predicate. "You go to the store" is a verbal equivalent to the melody of "Twinkle Twinkle," the two phrases constituting a subject and predicate. However, it is possible to imply the subject: "Go to the store," the "you" being understood. This is the verbal equivalent to what Beethoven did, and to what you're documenting, the implied tonic (resolution) that is musically created.

[@fernandobarra7372]

That's a good way to think about it.

[@RobHaccou]

A while ago I told my music buddy exactly the same, with examples Stevie's 'Pastime Paradise', The Police's 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', chorus of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. Lydian is magic! Thanks for confirming Aimee.

[@caddycallaghan]

Your Insta grabbed me so much! This is marvellous thank you ❤

[@flexwinggpipi]

Gorgeous Voice

[@OdaKa]

your playing those examples is beautiful

[@timpullen4941]

Your piano is beautifully tuned. Thank you very much.

[@prschuster]

"I just made that one up" as she starts to play a beautiful melody.

[@netuno60]

Thank you Aimee for this excellent video. I enjoy a lot listening to you talk about the chord progression, the melody forces, and music development. I try hard to understand everything and I am almost there.

[@DavoY2K]

I really like the way you explain things. Understandable and relatable. There's a country song called "Don't Close Your Eyes" that technically starts in it's key of G, but the lyrics are all set up with those pick up notes to start on the 4th. This is amazing. I play guitar and learned by ear 40 years ago and naturally learned theory out of curiosity. Anyway back to songs. I like the way "And I Love Her" starts on the 2nd to the 6th for a while before landing on the F. And "Sultans Of Swing" uses the relative minor as the key then changes to it's Major mid verse, if that makes any sense. Thank you for your time and talent. You're awesome!

[@rikkousa]

Hmm, a of the songs you o played are among my favorites…and I never knew why--until now… thank you Aimee..

[@danhamilton1920]

I'm learning where I can, your love of sounds, explanation of the key and how the tones work, is so helpful and the best videos I have found to help me, you're great, thank you x

[@michaeleaster1815]

I love this kind of content: thanks so much! Have a lovely holiday and all the best in 2023, Aimee...

[@JDkeyzz]

Yes a new idea, a new tool ! So cool that you like sir Paul. great songs to learn! you are so inspiring Aimee thank you ❤

[@sandalero]

also the IIm7 : "rock with you " michael jackson, "thank god its friday" r. kelly and "whatcha gonna do for me" chaka khan. .. (to name pop songs) the IIm7 as first chord is always magic

[@jamesadcock5235]

The perfect 4th I was listening to a music show on bbc4 radio about this. Alot of elvis songs begin like this. The theme from the good bad and the ugly was another song that was discussed

[@josephcalifano1058]

You covered the first tune that came to my mind “just friends”, another standard starting on the IV is “moon glow”

[@mojogypsy]

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks so much!

[@neilgggg1]

Was just playing "After you've gone", and thought about your cool video. It begins similarly to "My Love"

[@genesmalley9112]

Great lesson. Starting on the four chord.. It brings the awareness to your ear..Thnx..

[@chambre466]

thanks for the tips, happy new year

[@ktill1]

When I saw the title, Irene Cara came to mind. Out Here On My Own starts on a IV chord in 1st inversion, finally works to the dominant at the end of the phrase, only to go to the IV/vi again. It doesn’t get to the tonic until the very end. I sure liked the examples that were here, though.

[@mixville2]

Really nice video. An old time musician here, I never thought about this but you are right! Many years ago (1973?), Fleetwood Mac (pre- Nicks/Buckingham) had a song called Sentimental Lady that started with the IV, and just what you said - it emotionally grabbed me. The first lines of each of the 3 verses started with it, and it hit me over and over. Several years later, Bob Welch, who wrote the song, did a solo version that was a radio hit, but he only did ONE verse with the starting IV - and it frustrated the heck out of me!! Anyway, thanks for a great video. Now I have to check out your others!

[@willardroad]

I love it when I find yet another cool music nerd, laying out musical knowledge for the rest of us. Thank you! I found this video by complete serendipity, and am glad the YT algorithm brought me here. Love it. More, please.

[@colourtones]

Simply excellent content, Aimee! Thank you!!

[@maciek_d]

Fantastic concept for song analysis. Please do more of it

[@insidejazzguitar8112]

The IV chord! Yes! Aimee, you are a treasure! And I love your digressions! This is one of the reasons why Just Friends is my favorite tune.

[@romerburato6297]

Wow! What a voice and talent!

[@africkinamerican]

YES..... IV my favorite to start on

[@pinballrobbie]

Just learning music theory now for guitar, this is gold for me. Love your voice singing and spoken, thanks for this.

[@NathanThurberMusic]

Never heard the Paul McCartney song. I'll have to check it out. We had to play Bright Size Life when I was going to Atlanta institute of music years ago. Great tune!

[@musiccreation1198]

Well done Aimee! Ty.

[@peterlaws1653]

I love that painting you've got hanging there Aimee

[@AimeeNolte]

My mother in law painted it. Much thx

[@pawelpap9]

I always thought the inventor of the technique was Beethoven, whose first symphony first movement is in C, but starts with C7 resolving to F, then G7 to a, and then D7 resolving to G. Supposedly it was revolutionary for its time as normally pieces would start from a home key. In his first symphony Beethoven makes us wait for awhile before home key is established, creating a mood of uncertainty, which you so nicely demonstrated in your examples.

[@ayoaina_fpv]

Great stuff! Thanks Aimee! That McCartney song grabs me every time! That melody… 😊

[@lyndamcardle4123]

......and the late Henry Liken Campbell McCullough nailed the solo too. I love the augmented chord in the song as well. Isn't the major 7th a gorgeous chord?

[@matthewgoldberg1461]

Very interesting, Aimee. How about the bridge to Have Yourself a Merry…. “Once Again as in Olden Days …”

[@ricardoneves5094]

I would give a double like if I could. One for the “just friends” and another for the Metheny references

[@paulbalogh4582]

This was great! Nice werk!!!!

[@Wayne_Robinson]

Great examples that have encouraged me to start my next song on the IV. I was unfamiliar with Sleepy Time Down South so thanks for calling it out. What a beautiful set of changes and melody.

[@justmelanie152]

I really, really love the information you’re presenting! It’s exactly what I want to be learning more of! It would be so helpful for me to see a visual of what chords are being played - like having the key and its I, IV, V, etc. labeled on the side and lighting up as you play. My brain has a hard time really grasping it all only verbally.

[@AimeeNolte]

Check David Bennett’s channel. His visuals are better than mine although I’m working on it! This is kind of an old video

[@kjhammersteinMusic]

1:00 lol!!! Love you Aimee!! Hope you have a great new year :) Then those chord - the greatest love of all!!!! dang!!

[@ChandlerIsbellComposer]

One of my favorite examples of this is Chopin’s Op. 69 No. 1 Waltz. Starts on a first inversion IV chord.

[@JLBribiesca]

12:06 anyone who takes the reverence to explore one of the greatest, most existential songs of all time, is a winner in my book. And it’s only appropriate for Jimmy Webb to write such abstract yet palpable lyrics with an undefined key. Is it in F? Is it in D? Is it in G? All we know is that it’s the key to the soul.

[@Timtam2020]

Amazing at explaining, not many with your talent. Awsome

[@richardwhitehead4684]

She said ‘and now we’re gonna “tonicise” the tonic even more’. That made me smile. More than a little wonky, but a good time. I’ll look into her other videos for more ideas.

[@anthonymorales842]

It always amazes me how musically literate and accomplished some people are. of course I am referring to this host. Wonderful voice and piano.

[@TonyThomas10000]

Thanks for sharing these gems. Love "Wichita Lineman"---one of my faves. Jimmy Webb is a genius!

[@Borat_Kazakh]

Starting on IV means it's going to be something between Lawrence Welk and classic country.

[@MrTonysoundsgood]

In the pop/rock realm I'm pretty sure Gin Blossoms' "Hey Jealousy" starts on the IV (with a pickup). You actually don't here the I chord until the prechorus; the verse loops IV-V-vi-V. So when the prechorus comes in with that I chord it is this huge relief because you've been building tension the whole time and that tension and release is echoed in the lyrics. Really great pop composition!

[@AimeeNolte]

I love that song. Good call

[@Fatfingertunes]

So very cool Aimee, I send links to your videos to my musical friends... especially the one about the tunes the Beatles goofed off with on the "Let it Be" sessions. "Just Friends" is one of my favorite tunes!

[@richie1047]

Really enjoying the singing here.

[@GoodVibeTribe]

Awesome video! Love how you relate to pop songs to teach the theory and especially like your sense of humor!

[@GeoffreyMays]

Great spirit you have and good skills. You really got me when you brought up Bright Size Life. One of the best!

[@netuno60]

Beautifully and didactically explained. So the fourth is excellent for a startup. Paul isn't a jazz musician but it seems that he has the soul and the ears of one.

[@ledaswan5990]

Glad he didn’t play jazz

[@batboy242]

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to you Aimee, and your family and loved ones! Thank You for your wonderful videos, Fran

[@Geotubest]

Love your delivery. First time visitor.

[@jimknudsen7542]

Thank you so much!!