The Scariest + Creepiest Chords AND How to Use Them

The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! bit.ly/3wDacU4
To honor the elder gods and undead this Hallowed season, I’m posting the PDF for this video to EVERYONE instead of just my incredible Patreon subscribers: bit.ly/32nJlvq
If you want to join my Patreon you can here: / signalsmusicstudio
If you're way into the modes, consider getting my Ultimate Modal Poster: www.teespring.com/signals-ult...
What are the scariest chords? Creepiest chords? Well, it’s certainly subjective. But this is a quick list of spooky chords and some advice on how to use them. You’ll notice that the majority of these revolve around a minor triad, and that shouldn’t be a surprise. Minor has a tendency to skew to the evil…
If you would like some more info on creepy composition techniques, check out this video I did a while back: • Six Spooky Secrets Com...
And here's my video on the MinMaj7 chord: • The MYSTERY Chord - Mi...
The intro song I made uses every chord I mentioned, in order, with the exception of the AugMaj7 chord. So the progression is Em - EmAdd9 - EmM7 - Emb6 - Em - Bbm - Bclusterf***
Theory Note: An E Augmented Triad is composed of a root, a major third, and an augmented 5th. The 5th of E is B, and to augment it would make it a B#. This is enharmonically equivalent to C. The correct spelling of E Aug is E G# B#. Call me a bad instructor, but I intentionally avoid enharmonic confusion when possible. I can honestly care less if a musician spells a chord incorrectly, as I am not a professor and do not care about students passing tests, I care about them making music easily and efficiently. As long as the instructor gives them a footnote to explore further (as I am doing here).
SORRY THEORY NERDS!
Thanks to Moog Lee for letting me borrow his theremin. His channel: / midiman741
Special thank you to my Patreon supporters for making my videos possible!
Linas Orentas
Joe Buote
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Christopher Swanson
John Arnold
Jon Reddish
Brandon Combs
Sebastian
Morgan M.
Lord of the Chords
Billyshes
Phillip Sharp
Don Watters
Bradley Bower
Marek Pawlowski
BuzzWasHere
Kip Ingram
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:44 Minor b6 Chords
01:55 Minor Add9/Add2 Chords
03:32 Minor Major 7
04:06 Augmented Major 7
05:08 i - bv Chord Progressions
06:33 Cluster Chords
07:36 Wrapping Up

[@de-b1221]

Most disturbing sound I've ever heard in my life was hearing my little sister try and play 3 blind mice on the violin and sing along with it. I thought she was possessed.

[@Prometheus_666]

Basically any song that my sister was trying to play on her first two years. We used to confine her to a room three doors away...

[@philip5851]

😂please shut up!!

[@jondecarbonel8158]

LMFAO 💀 I bet. I can just imagine.

[@rmo52]

Reminds me on my viola final in high strings class in college. I’m a piano player. It was NOT stellar lol. Still got a B.

[@EngineersQuest]

@Zalekie B 😂

[@adampotter760]

6:06 is hands down the best look of horror I have ever seen this deserves an oscar

[@KenMattsson]

I don’t know how you kept from blinking here. That’s a scary look!

[@spicykimchi1]

It kind of reminds me of running around poor Tristram in Diablo 2.

[@NeoRichardBlake]

@@spicykimchi1 I was just coming down here to say that! Jake you accidentally ripped off the Tristam theme XD kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5-wg2mJhKeUb80 Time stamp is right where the melody sounds like the theramin here. Listen to the whole track though, it's great!

[@javieralejandroamorosi8639]

@@spicykimchi1 it's tristam. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpnIe6Gjgaaqns0

[@jasonfella265]

haha I know, totally! I laughed my ass off

[@timeforachange12]

Associating chords and emotions is something you do very well.

[@Anikin3-]

Adam neely does very well too

[@robranney-blake8731]

Ukuleles not scary? Then why do my friends and family run away when I play? Happy Halloween.

[@charlesharper7292]

Yea, my uke (Ruby) is bout as scary as my pretty pony...🎃👻👹🎠

[@MafiaPyro]

Lmfaoooooooooo funny

[@andrewsparkes8829]

@@charlesharper7292 No-one has ever not called My Little Pony at least a little creepy...even bronies!

[@robranney-blake8731]

Cletus Beauregard, not on purpose.

[@glammer]

@whiteaxxxe Why do bagpipers walk when they play? To get away from the noise.

[@whoeverofhowevermany]

"It's like endless possibilities, but none of the possibilities are really that good." Poetry.

[@TyCarr]

My Name 😂😂😂

[@AdlerMow]

@@TyCarr Sounds lovecraftian to me!

[@dianalewandowski7421]

Lol I laughed at that

[@lynneceegee8726]

My Name good grief! You have been sadly undereducated if you call that poetic! 🤣

[@mrtheblr]

That line had me shrugging lol

[@El_Pimpin_Shizz]

Minor b6 - 0:50 Minor Add 9 - 1:55 Minor Add 2 - 2:24 Minor Major 7th - 3:32 Augmented Major 7th - 4:07 i-bV Chord Change- 5:08 Cluster Chords - 6:33 Explaining The Feelings And Sounds Of The Chords - 7:36 Tips And Advice - 8:05 Support For Patreon Or Channel - 9:07

[@El_Pimpin_Shizz]

Left on Minor b6

[@bulldawg7232]

​@El_Pimpin_Shizz but that was the very first one!

[@El_Pimpin_Shizz]

@@bulldawg7232 im a quitter sorry

[@SerpentStar_]

What's crazy about music, you hear something and INSTANTLY paints a picture in your head of something it relates to. That "Detective chord" is perfect example 🔍

[@berachtdorian6191]

Welcome to the wonderful world of ear training.

[@deanhotter6054]

But if no detective shows existed what would you think

[@kiwigold]

@@deanhotter6054 a gumshoe just walked into my cave

[@mikegeld1280]

That detective chord is the 007 joint

[@ThinPicks]

The "James Bond chord" in the key of E is E, G, B, D#, F#. Best if you play the E as 12th fret harmonic on the bottom string and then a diagonal slant upwards for all four fingers from the G on the 10th fret. Sounds great!

[@brettbirge8246]

You called the Minor Major 7th chord the "Detective Chord." I like it.

[@TheBlackbelair]

You mean like, "Secret Agent Man"?

[@nameynamename5382]

@@TheBlackbelair Or my personal favorite, Codename: Kids Next Door

[@CMM5300]

It's the oo7 chord.

[@YuriRadavchuk]

I heard there was a secret chord..

[@grahamconnorhudsonjameson8834]

That David played to please the lord

[@f.s.4879]

but you don't really care for music, do you?

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

THAT SCARED THE PANTS OFF OF THE LORD

[@Cain_Abyss]

@@SignalsMusicStudio David: "Yo Lord, check out this dope chord!" *Plays an augmented major 7th chord* Lord: "Oh shit!"

[@n.e.campmore7337]

@@SignalsMusicStudio but you dont don trousers while haunting, do ya

[@arthurriley5856]

I love how he looks scared to death yet he is the one creating the scary music. Truly a very funny and talented person.

[@guntertorfs6486]

Gathered a lot of music theory knowledge for a 16 year old ( looking guy)

[@DarkChopin]

This is great stuff! I love creepy musics sounds.

[@StarDarkAshes]

I love the part in the Beatles Julia where there’s a walking down beneath the E minor chord for a brief part of the progression. And that song goes through so many different feelings and places and for a moment you’re in this very dreamy sort of dark place

[@genatzvalee]

7:57 this minor maj7 is in Pink Floyd song "Us and Them", I love it a lot, so mysterious and cool.

[@henkdevries7336]

“...taken me to places i wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemies.” r/Guitar 😂😂

[@MJAY-N7129]

Hahaha I realised that too 😂😂😂

[@thedefiant6244]

Henk De Vries lol

[@brutexrp7207]

This has been your best cinematic presentation I have seen. Loved it.

[@maciejmarzecki6292]

6:11 its alomst like Tristram theme from Diablo

[@SAT0R1.]

This was the best “one of these types of guitar lesson videos” in all the years ive watched them . Really looking forward to put it into practice . Good vid 🎉

[@kentkacs3140]

Thanks for this Hallowe'en treat! The look on your face at 6:06 elevates this video to a whole new level.

[@multrufio8056]

Thank you to everyone who donates to Jake so we can get this amazing content for free

[@dread455]

O

[@aagamanpant936]

Subscribe like and share!!! It will help him too

[@williamerickson520]

That first theremin part (6:08) legitimately gave me chills. That's not easy to do. Congrats! Addendum: I think that the speed of the melody also plays a large part of the spookyness.

[@jermainetucker6001]

This is so phenomenal!! I love these minor chords melodies!! There's something lurking around every corner 👏🏾

[@henrique88t]

3:14 And we've just learned how to write a song like Akira Yamaoka.

[@phoebedraper3046]

as soon as i heard that chord i thought of Laura's Theme

[@HELLCHILDFAN101]

Honestly!!

[@jayavey3114]

Yeah man silent hill 2 with that Em add9. A bit James Bond like too!

[@jacktraveller8290]

These little 'chords to evoke a particular mood' lessons you do are so useful.

[@trangnhaaaa]

Great video. This is what I've been looking for for a long time. Thank you for your clear & helpful instructions.

[@albertocastro9091]

Enjoyed all the videos you make. I appreciate the time you spend on them. Thank you.

[@vincentjakeescolar2346]

Been playing these creepy chords for years after playing metal songs. I love playing them after a jam session 'cause it makes me feel calm.

[@raulcaldeira8071]

I'm a jazz guy so none of the chords above sound creepy because I'm already used with dissonance, but cluster chords do the job for horror movies scare scenes

[@flux1940]

Offically the best music channel on youtube. You sir are amazing. You teached me a lot. Thanks to you i was able to improve so much !

[@caiobortoletto4363]

I love it when I see one of your videos, click on them, and you start the video like this one or how you did with the Maj/Min7 chord. Its very well done

[@auralfixxation6702]

I'm so glad you started with a reference to Twin Peaks. The music is what really drew people in back then and many I think, didn't realize it was the soundtrack that put the flame to the pipe. And they all wanted.., another hit.

[@supadupahilton6848]

Yeah, probably wouldn't have worked with the little rascals theme.

[@donnierobinson1273]

Dude you are brilliant! Psychology of music, love it!! As a guitarist since I was 15, I always have been attracted to the dark, dissonant melodies.

[@999manman]

Okay, I'm a guitarist of many years and know my chords but this taught me what else I have to learn! Kudos!!!

[@katherinecolvin3932]

Jake , You are by far the BEST ON YOURUBE !!! Keep up the awesome work bro !!!

[@arthurmee]

Great vid Jake. I like the way you've selected a human emotion and then collected a group of chords that evoke that emotion in various ways. Useful for those of us who write music . . .

[@Vorgaloth]

Black metal bands like Blut Aus Nord, Deathspell Omega, Spire - some of the darkest extreme music on the planet.

[@radmed979]

Thank you for the tips, been playing for 38yrs. From Beatles, pink floyd, led zeppelin, to metal. All self taught. I hope you keep it up... Learning something new everyday even if it's a couple of notes adds to your tool bag of life lessons.....

[@dcfromthev]

Love your work! Was looking for inspiration for some metal riffs and you delivered!

[@vintageclouds9510]

@2:11- that's 'Silent Hill' right there!

[@bim41337]

The change from the one chord to the tritone minor chord is actually the main progression used in Gollum's Theme from Lord of the Rings. Great sound right there. Just listen to it when it goes like "Where once was light now darkness falls ...". Amazing

[@stevenpittman8668]

Wow, man, you did it again. A simple way to demystify a concept and approach to guitar.

[@krystofpolansky7785]

man this is such a great video. I really appreciate the work you put into it :) all the references to movies - especially twin peaks. And the gags. Also very informative. Thank you so much

[@delarkaBCN]

4:41 i Agree, augmenteds can sound dark. Also, they can sound like Rivendell.... nice vid as always, enjoying this last ones specially. You rock-!

[@Ryan_Perrin]

The Silent Hill 3 soundtrack has always had some of the most haunting songs on it. Granted, some of them just invoke a feeling of depression for me more than fear. But some are down right creepy

[@CreedP1]

Just wanted to say thanks for this video. I'm still learning music theory and songwriting, but was able to utilize these concepts in a "spooky" track I made. It gave great flair beyond the basic 3-chord progression by adding in 7ths, 6ths, minors and so on.

[@fenner4117]

super impressive video, so well done and thorough

[@xavierryan4602]

Great teacher, Jake is! Thank him, I do! (to his patreon supporters, my gratitude goes, as well!)

[@Arsenico971]

The minor triad is very popular in some sub-genres of heavy metal. I've been using it myself a lot of times in my compositions.

[@ClassicalExtremities]

Loved the vid. I will try those chords out immediately! Thanks, Patreon subscribers!

[@kolorfool]

You're the most enjoyable music theory/tutorial guy on KZbin! HAHA good stuff man

[@martinagniss59]

Getting Diablo vibes from this. Great vid, as always!!

[@babylemonade2868]

That Eminor to B flat minor is pure opeth. The song off the storm corrosion album called drag ropes has some creepy chords in it. Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt made it and it’s brilliant if you haven’t heard it. Wish they’d make another one

[@wpb5876]

Is it weird that I find all these chord’s beautiful and not uneasy at all. Great video!

[@NickBaysingar]

This was a great demonstration. Some of these chords really remind me of the incredible music from the Diablo games. Now it's time to try these chords out with some dark synth and see what I get!

[@damonbrown5424]

Your example for the EmAdd2 on synth really reminded me of "Hey You" - especially with how you rolled the chord on the electric piano track.

[@ddude1212]

I call the voicing of EmAdd2 on guitar the “Floyd Chord,” because they use it ALL of the time, which helps shape their kinda dark sound great. Breathe, the end of Wish You Were Here live, Welcome to the Machine, I could probably think of more (edit: including Hey You, which I love), but because of how much I love Gilmour it makes it’s way into my writing a lot.

[@warrenburroughs3025]

When you started singing that melody over the Bbm - Em progression I was strongly reminded of the song Years Ago by Alice Cooper from the album Welcome to my Nightmare. A very eerie song - and album.

[@behrtwald]

Remarkable presentation and it's very fluid. Subbed!

[@fiorano10]

Hey man ! Your work is superb ! Always a delight to watch your videos ! This one especially was really good !

[@erikpaterson1404]

One of KZbins most under rated channels. Jake Lizzio, in my opinion has been the most instrumental guy in my guitar playing learning journey. I hope he is doing well and is achieving great success out there. 🤘🤘

[@RC32Smiths01]

I find it really appropriate that you would go into mostly E Minor for these chords, which is definitely a haunting key in its own right!

[@mimikal7548]

In equal temperament all keys sound the same? (unless you have perfect pitch)

[@badbeardbill9956]

They don’t sound exactly the same. They technically are, but the voicings on the instrument matter and the actual absolute pitch also matters. Intervals, even the same “size”, aren’t all necessarily equal.

[@MrStupidHead]

i didn't expect this much musical insight. really super. Boo!

[@t.n.patronis4098]

Fantastic examples! I enjoyed this a lot.

[@DeadMansPartyFilms]

The add9 chord is well used in the song, Theme of Laura by Akira Yamaoka from the game Silent Hill 2. ❤

[@BummerParty]

Was sifting through comments to see someone say this! 🙌

[@Andersabjorn1]

Thanks for sharing! You have an excellent channel that gives alot of tips to musicians! Keep up with the fantastic content!

[@andersabjorn4397]

Agree! :)

[@Andersabjorn1]

@@andersabjorn4397 Yay! :D

[@andersabjorn4397]

@@Andersabjorn1 :)

[@johndogwater]

Thankyou, this was such a clear and useful tutorial, I learned a lot.

[@TheGarageJump]

Clever video. Thanks for this insight and for posting - cheers.

[@jessicametal7796]

Lately I've been wanting to expand my theory and chord knowledge into the death metal stuff I play, and this is amazing for that. I wanna do more with my music than just play the same 3 power chords and call it a day. Thank you so much for this because now I can make cool progressions in slower/clean passages that still sound evil af!

[@svenjansen2134]

3? You're wild!

[@andreyandreiko8553]

The intro had a very "amnesia feel" to it

[@mosthighguitarguy]

Im a first time viewer got this in my feed after watching years of guitar and music vids . Really well put together and entertaining as much as informative!! I just HAVE TO subscribe!! The Em with added b ( Minor b6 ) is such a cool chord !! Im so glad i found ya :j

[@keyboardheuvelrug]

Great chords. As a long time music teacher I already knew them, but i want to complement you on your great guitar sound! Great lush chorus there and a beefy but also bright sound

[@henrike5402]

Some of my favorite chords and these are all used very heavily in black metal. The example at 3:14 is basically the first part of Deathspell Omega's Abscission.

[@dickdastardly2560]

The Scariest & Creepiest Chords are the ones I played when I was first learning the guitar, trust me they were very Uncomfortable and Unsettling and you definitely don't want to use them. 😲😲😬😬

[@davidmonroy2509]

This video made my day, not only was it exactly what I was looking for, but it was so hilarious!

[@TheHistoryTellers]

I definitely enjoyed listening to you and learning as I worked. Thank you

[@nigelmikaele]

The "Unsolved mysteries" early seasons with Robert Stack is one of the scariest theme music i've heard.

[@trollingisasport]

What's the chord prog for that?

[@anixias]

Minor ♭6 Minor add9 (aka add2) Minor Maj7 (aka "Detective chord") Augmented Maj7 i - ♭iv (tritone progression) cluster chords (notes that don't fit any chord structures, such as E F D♯)

[@xmaninma]

Exactly what I was looking for, especially the creepy arpeggio. Perfect for my Halloween pickin' :) Thanks!

[@juliodefreitas157]

Thanks for sharing your tips. Awesome video. 👍

[@skaruts]

I've always been enamored with spooky sounds, especially the most haunting and graveyard-ish. If I didn't suck at playing guitar I'd be exploring that a lot. It's the reason why I've always had a special place in my heart for two of Cradle Of Filth's albums "Cruelty And The Beast" and "Dusk And Her Embrace". They are full of delicious spooky tones and riffs.

[@svenjansen2134]

Shift open chords around.

[@Ryan_Perrin]

Jake: *Mentions Laura Palmer* Me: well, guess I'm rewatching twin peaks now

[@danpreston564]

*plays Laura Palmer theme Me - damn, now I need to listen to early Moby tracks. Go!

[@5882300rickroll]

Just finished a rewatch. The return is way better the second time around.

[@muaddib667]

Again.

[@jamesb1710]

You get it

[@glammer]

That chord you like will come back into style.

[@nitorishogiplayer3465]

lol the look during the chord change part with the theremin is awesome. Useful chords and stuff.

[@Busbybeats]

So glad this showed up in my suggestions! Great video, great channel...subscribed!

[@flemmingvestergaard8526]

The cluster chord you play reminds me of Ligeti's Lux Aeterna from 2001 A space Odyssey. Quite unsetteling. Also James Bond Theme has the em, emb6, em6, emb6 progression. Nice video.

[@regolithia]

Could you do a video on 6th chords? I don’t mean It6/Ger6/Fr6 chords, because those are widely discussed and explained; Rather, I mean Maj6 and Min6 chords. They’re underused and underappreciated!

[@Psiger]

Nice, I want to dig deeper into chords, thanks for the video!

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

Your spooky bits in this this vid are ace!

[@bradleydoyle6752]

Zappa used 1 2 5 chords in his compositions a lot, really helped his unique sound .

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Jazz

[@genatzvalee]

"It sounds confusing but it's really easy" Yeah, for YOU Jake, it is!

[@bruceclark6520]

This is the happiest video I've seen all day!

[@joshuacampbell1682]

Love this channel so much

[@LauchSkillerTV]

Holy shit dude. I've been following you for years and I love your content (I sometimes see you on r/musictheory), but this video was honestly mind blowing. Never thought about using cluster chords, I always thought they were trash due to me playing only acoustic guitar but I will try with a synth in a DAW now honestly. Also the editing is great and your look of pure horror is convincing as fuck man. Also, Isnt that Emb6 not just a Cmaj7 in Inversion?

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Lol thanks! I was thinking about posting this in r/musictheory , figured someone could add some extra chords to the list. And yes, Cmaj7 in first inversion would be an Emb6. It has dual citizenship between both roles, pretty sure I touch on that in my Bruno Mars video, either in the video or the description itself.

[@LauchSkillerTV]

@@SignalsMusicStudio Yea good reminder for me cause I am into Jazz and to hear a maj7 in a different context made me realize that it sounds way different. Of course the inversion has something to do with it also. And only thing I still remember about that Bruno Mars video is the unusual use of the minor2 chord in Pop music. I am very sorry that I've failed you :P

[@Malachiah]

These chords, because they sound so dissonant and shattering to our perception of normality (about 60-70 percent of the cue in a game by my estimate), are exactly the sort of thing acclaimed music composer Akira Yamaoka has used for the Silent Hill games - which are soon to make a comeback, and rightfully so!

[@farnaztabatabaee]

Amazing!thank you so much for this video!♥️

[@gband5151]

So cool! Thanks for your knowledge!

[@MrRaupy]

5:54 gives me that feel of a cursed dungeon and i have to defeat a vicious deamon in order to save the village of trist... Wait a sec ...

[@regolithia]

Yes! Another Diablo fan!

[@furkancoskun3150]

Right!

[@Rude_i_Wredne]

This video is basically Tristram soundtrack explained.

[@ransombaggins9301]

First thing I thought of from the start! Great catch.

[@marcos.7705]

I think that Tristram theme is the darkest sound ever.

[@ArchbardWava]

Me, at 6:14: "My God, that's terrifyi- oh, it's just Celine Dion. Nevermind."

[@Midiman741]

I think it's the librarian ghost from Ghost Busters. The good one, not the shite one.

[@cooldude879012]

@@Midiman741 It is actually from Raiders Of The Lost Ark! It's the scene when the Nazi's open the Ark.

[@Midiman741]

@@cooldude879012 ahhhh I see it now!

[@DasBSternchen]

Interisting. I am not a musician and never gonna get used to that stuff, but even watching it was very useful. Stay healthy!

[@pumpdelicious]

That moog theremin is badass! I love the old campy horror movies with those sounds. Thanks!

[@gwkonyoutube]

6:13 Yeah I'm not falling asleep tonight

[@Stuugie.]

Intro's giving me Opeth vibes

[@bartsimpsonnft4387]

Opeth💜

[@ddehggial9932]

the minor triad bit made me immediately think of Opeth.

[@TurtleFrack]

SUPER !!!!! I just learned more here than I learned in Music Theory 40 years ago..... "No Me Nu Me Na - - - No Me Nu Me Na - - - Repeat up 1/2 step - - - Repeat that until scale is complete, then receded back down the scale.

[@sg84eva]

Most entertaining video I've watched in a while ❤