The Top 5 Stevie Wonder Chord Progressions

[@PianoWithJonny]

00:00 - Intro 00:55 - 1. Isn't She Lovely 04:32 - 2. My Cherie Amour 07:58 - 3. I Wish 10:38 - 4. You are the Sunshine of my Life 13:00 - 5. Ribbon in the Sky 15:58 - Conclusion

[@handsomeblackman255]

My dad has a natural God gifted talent to play piano. Never had a lesson. His older sister (my aunt) took the lessons. He said he would watch her and followed her hands. I asked him if this guy's instruction made sense to him and he said "not really", and proceeded to play all these songs exactly the same. 😁

[@PianoWithJonny]

That's amazing!

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

Crazy what ability some people are born with - almost like x-men

[@handsomeblackman255]

@@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD Like the the mechanic that can tear a engine apart and put it back together and says "I learned by helping my dad fix cars." That's it. No school, just natural ability. Some have it, some don't.

[@andybrown6981]

These chords are well used in music. On a page, they have fancy letters and numbers and symbols. On an instrument are fundamental chords. Your dad, probably saw the chords names so exactly knew what he was doing then.

[@swabygw]

At 9:44, you do a quick riff on the Ebmin-Abmaj. You go down and then back up. I've got the down but can't figure out the timing on the way back up. Could you possibly provide the sheet music (so we can see the timing) to just that riff, plz?

[@PianoWithJonny]

It's improv, but you can slow the video down! Also here's the whole lesson: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/the-top-5-stevie-wonder-chord-progressions/

[@swabygw]

@@PianoWithJonny - yep, I tried notating it after slowing it down considerably. It looks like he's going up in thirds, instead of a full swing, so that was what I was trying to figure out. Is that right? (It's a good riff.)

[@andybrown6981]

I play guitar synth and it has piano, so I learn the parts and transpose to my fretboard, and I found this video very interesting, informative and clear. What I do find is on piano you strike a chord and one of the notes corresponds to being on the same guitar string, so you must go up or down an octave for that note.

[@PianoWithJonny]

That's so cool!

[@zyzzyvacation]

Another great Stevie song, "Until You Come Back to Me," has an almost identical chord progression to "My Cherie Amour" for the first few bars only, and Stevie wrote both songs at ages 14 and 15 respectively 🫡

[@PianoWithJonny]

That's so cool!

[@Tyler-ko8dp]

9:40 - what exactly is based on the Eb dorian scale? The 1 chord? or the progression itself?

[@PianoWithJonny]

You can read the in-depth analysis here: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/the-top-5-stevie-wonder-chord-progressions/

[@yotrakz]

Feelin your pedagogy. It’s quick, interesting and encourages exploration. Nice!

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you so much!

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

I agree

[@peterboth4975]

Very inspiring lesson! My favorite progression is Joy Inside My Tears.

[@yotrakz]

Agreed, especially at the chorus with that synth bass. patch

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you!

[@MrZedhow]

Great lesson and insight into the amazing jazz voicing’s Stevie Wonder uses. And beautifully explained. The consistent sus 4 voicing’s are fascinating.

[@alessandrosantana3161]

Lovely that chords! I love to follow your tips. God bless you aways, brother😎👏🎹🇧🇷!

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you!

[@Solid_Brass]

Another great lesson, your channel is really an opulent source, thanks!

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you so much!

[@ianbooth4255]

Please note that the second chord in You are the Sunshine of My Life is chord 5 with the 7th in the bass, in other words F# over E. Then the forth chord has no 5th but does have a 6th so it plays like F over G# and F#. Please don't think I'm trying to find fault, you are clearly a much better keys player than I am, but I am a huge Stevie Wonder fan and have spent hours listening to his music and working out his amazing harmonic structures. The man is an absolute genius.

[@windward2818]

The piano chord progression style one the Isn't She Lovely is on one (e.g. James Brown) with a shuffle in 4/4 time with standard alternating bass drum and snare. Four on the floor is 4/4 time with the bass drum on every beat, which is sitting directly on the floor, hence, four on the floor, like in the song "Ride like the Wind" by Christopher Cross. Four on the floor is a drum rhythm reference and note piano.

[@petershen1984]

My Cherie Amour --- Sure, the bass notes go 2-5-1 , but the unique chords built on top of it is amazing 6:07

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

It's like taking the familiar and building on it I guess

[@corbettdennis6246]

It's really a 6-2-5-1 progression. Very common but Stevie makes it sound so cool.

[@petershen1984]

@@corbettdennis6246common as being part of the circle of fifths (equidistant) (but it's not going to Emaj... it's going to the five of Db to complete the loop

[@corbettdennis6246]

@@petershen1984 my bad, I thought he was talking about the song isn't she lovely. I couldn't make it past the 3rd song in the video due to so much bad info from Johnny regarding the chord progressions. And I still maintain that the 6-2-5-1 chord progression is very common to this day, even in current pop music.

[@JeffRyan_88keys]

I'm glad you made a video about Stevie Wonder music. I've always done Isn't She Lovely in C minor. I know it's originally in C# min. It's a great song and progression.

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

Don't blame you - it's such a great song I agree

[@mirllewist3086]

In Isn’t She Lovely, could that third chord also be viewed as an A major triad over B? I guess it fills the role of the B - a dominant, driving us home to the Emaj7. But to my simple mind it also looks a lot like a IV with the dominant in the bass. Can it be called either way, or is one more correct? Thanks!

[@PianoWithJonny]

The Chord Formula is explained in depth here: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/the-top-5-stevie-wonder-chord-progressions/

[@mirllewist3086]

Great - thank yiu

[@jeffjohnson7381]

Great lesson jonny so glad to see something from Stevie Wonder…❤🎹🎶

[@RodSugden]

Awesome lesson, thank you, Jonny. These chord progressions from Stevie are inspiringly delicious.

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thanks, agree!

[@electricmoonmusic]

I think you are the best at teaching and love your playing!!!! Sooo good! Love the song Ribbon in the sky.

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thanks so much!

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

Totally agree!!!

[@jetpaq]

No one ever mentions that Chicago, popularized that verse progression, in "Saturday in the park"! But 4 years earlier, and with some sweet horns!! I think Stevie was inspired...?!!🤔

[@michellemonet4358]

Yes!

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

Blimey I did not know this!

[@JohnChandlerEdmonton]

The second chord in Sunshine of my life is f# major with e in the bass.

[@johnletitia]

Thank you! Made my day today! great stuff

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you!

[@Daozhille]

Amazing lesson, thanks

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thanks for watching!

[@remco2777]

Really interesting analysis, thank you

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thanks for watching!

[@cmajornine5767]

Great insight on Stevie, What book are you studying from?

[@TheMotiveDJ]

My personal suggestion is changing the second chord in You Are The Sunshine to an F# major over an E bass. Listen to how much more accurate that sounds.

[@nwh3rd]

That's exactly what it is

[@lauraobligado-arteenaccion8567]

great lesson as allways, thank you so much

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thanks for watching!

[@sagaciousp5267]

I’m sensing a lot of negative vibe in the comments here and I think you did a great job covering a lot of ground with SW’s musical style. I think everybody’s got to play through this material slowly and eventually you’ll get his groove. Stevie never plays his songs exactly the same every time, but you’ll never hear him not feeling it.

[@PianoWithJonny]

Yes for sure, thanks for watching!

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

Agree - this was a great lesson let's see some positivity

[@JohnFemijkeyz]

Thank you for this

[@g.p616]

Great stuff.. Thanks!

[@mdelaubergine8930]

"Isn't She Lovely" is just a circle of 5ths progression with extra notes for color. How did you miss "Summer Soft?" The progression is really unique.

[@cmajornine5767]

What book are you getting the chords from?

[@TeachtheLoveofMusic]

Cheers Johnny!! Great vid thx!

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thanks for watching!

[@curiouscurious6558]

NICE JOB. Jonny, Although on I wish you need to show everyone the bass line, and the actually little riff Stevie does, sound so much better , Thank you for all you do

[@ВиталийДомогацкий-д8ф]

Nice video. I've heard in 1st progression some Joe Dassen sounds. It sounds like "Salut..."😂

[@PianoWithJonny]

Interesting!

[@kurtzilcolonnello]

Thank you, it was astoneshing

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you!

[@kyledo544]

Why is it that the sheet music you are playing is inverse to the chords displayed? I'm not complaining you are the best teacher on youtube for blues and jazz and everything in between but I'm getting ready to go back to school and I really want to know why some notes are flat but some notes are sharp. Is there a real reason?

[@Knowyourintent]

Love the glasses

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you!

[@tancovery]

The last song can also be: 1 minor, 2 minor and 5sus?

[@ChrisTanner-v2b]

How do you know it's not correct?? Chris

[@rgstekl]

where is the link to 50% membership discount?

[@PianoWithJonny]

Please email our support team!

[@theodorekorbos2804]

Mr.jonny Sir Prince does something similar to that uses of the 9th a Sus 2

[@Wendolynn_Jane]

Thank you. Best! :)

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you!

[@amigodejesus4743]

Show !!! Muito bom !!!

[@charlesmccormick2625]

Stevie wonder: way under loved! 2) savant extra-ordinary 3) 4 wives 4) not the Quincy Jones type networking guru 5) awesome talent

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

Sounds like his wives were in 3/4 :)

[@cibonthesaint8903]

Aren’t those the same four cords of the Beatles “she’s leaving home“?

[@gobulann]

make a piano tutorial to accompany people singing

[@PianoWithJonny]

You may enjoy this video: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/5-tips-on-piano-accompaniment-for-singers/

[@steveciricillo4518]

Jonny, great stuff as always but I think it's easy for novices like me to get confused when you talk about a C#m chord but the screen display of the piano keyboard lists the C# key as a Db instead. Any way to adjust for that? Thanks!

[@RJ-pu6nc]

you need to do complete songs or at least more sections of the songs

[@tzodearf2596]

Nothing from Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants?

[@PeterHarris-nn6ot]

My grandmother Florence would understand this!

[@aleksandraslemenas5397]

👍👍👍

[@leveilleurnonsilencieux2681]

it's not B7 on isn't she lovely, but a A bass B !!

[@KarlRKaiser]

Sorry, but your interpretation of my Sherri Amor is not correct. Because there are so many flats and sharps, they write the first chord as.D flat , but if you write this piece in c# instead of d flat then all the chords will make sense and you will realize that the second chord is just the fourth degree, subdominant.

[@Oliver_Lingard]

Yeah, it's in Cb major and it's a II, V, I

[@FirstnameLastname-rc8yd]

😒 no…

[@kzeich]

​@@Oliver_Lingardthat's what I was thinking but if that's the case the II chord quality is major 7 and therefore not in key

[@marcusboone6045]

Did y'all even watch the entire video??? He says that it's a IV9 sus chord 🤔. Whether you interpret the scale as C#/Db, it's still the 4th degree in the scale 😅 He then explains that on the IV, he is playing a dominant 7 (E natural) and a B natural which is the 4th degree relative to F# key and is NOT playing the 3rd.

[@FirstnameLastname-rc8yd]

@@marcusboone6045 thats why i just went and typed no… lol. Sometimes its best to just let it make sense on its own.

[@corbettdennis6246]

Ugh. Again. I really like Johnny. He's a really good piano player and he gives great tips. But it's rare that I can ever make it through one of his videos. So on isn't she lovely, The first chord, which is a c sharp minor and he's telling us that it is a major chord. Wrong Johnny. Then in the song I wish, a song that is in the key of d-flat, which is a 2-5 chord progression in the beginning of the song like he is showing but he's telling us that the chord progression is a 1 to 4. Wrong Johnny. I had to stop the video at that point. I mean,I know these songs so it's not like he's confusing me. But someone who's trying to learn has got to be confused. As I've said before, he needs a better scriptwriter or editor or something.

[@PianoWithJonny]

Thank you for watching, I'm leaving the link here for the blog post that goes along with the video,. pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/the-top-5-stevie-wonder-chord-progressions/#i_wish. This explains the chords more in-depth.

[@XenoghostTV]

It's just a text error, chill out man.

[@corbettdennis6246]

@@XenoghostTV text error? No, he's stating these things. Either way, it's not like he's just posting free content to help people. He's trying to sell us stuff. Either get it right or hire a proof reader or script writer/notator. It's not just one error or one video either. If me or you made these glaring errors then I would side with you but this is piano Johnny, he's a professional is he not?

[@italoimbriaci994]

No superstition?

[@infn8loopmusic]

Beginner lesson here methinks

[@nancyrosemalone9856]

CoolToo late to learn at 73???

[@Manuel-ie3lj]

What a shame! You have a good content, but You are just sailing stuff after a short comments, plus the KZbin ads that comes up. 😢

[@whatilearnttoday5295]

Lost me at the talking-head intro, stayed just long enough for the advert. I'm out.

[@Theolonius-ov1ij]

Ho visto solo i primi 2 accordi e sono entrambi sbagliati. Mi spiace Prof. Nel primo manca la 9 che diventa 13 nel secondo. Suppongo che siano errati in tutti i brani che hai analizzato, se usi gli stessi concetti. 👋👋

[@howtodoitdude1662]

He’s using sheet music which are usually wrong.

[@Theolonius-ov1ij]

​@@howtodoitdude1662in effetti molti spartiti sono sbagliati, il modo migliore è drizzare le orecchie e farlo da soli.❤

[@Theolonius-ov1ij]

​@@howtodoitdude1662ho visto il tuo canale, fai il carpentiere... Cosa ne puoi capire di armonia?...con tutto il rispetto ma hai mai sentito parlare dell'effetto Dunning- Kruger?🍌