Four Chords and the Truth
Did you know: a huge number of popular songs use just four chords. Find out which four and why in this article, and learn how to write your own 4-chord songs. Continue reading →
View ArticleMeet vi, the sad twin of the chord family
Are you looking to play pop songs by ear or improve your music transcription skills? Want to spice up your song-writing? Have you heard of a 'four chord song' and wondered what that means? My recent...
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Chord Ear Training How-To: Chord Progressions
Learning to play chords by ear and improvise freely over chords are essential ear training goals for many musicians. Chord ear training is a big topic but can be broken into two main skills:...
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Playing by Ear, with Brad Mavin: Adding the 6 Chord
So far in this series we’ve covered the I, IV and V chords. These chords alone power thousands of so-called “three-chord songs” and they are the best starting point for chord progressions ear...
View ArticleThe 7 Best Videos to Learn 4-Chord Songs
Pop music’s lifeline is the the I-V-vi-IV chord progression. Countless songs, including most of your favorites, use just these 4 chords. Not convinced? Here’s a fun video from our favorite The Axis of...
View ArticleHow to Strum and Fingerpick 3- and 4-chord songs by ear: Top 5 Videos
So you’ve learned how to play 3-chord songs and 4-chord songs by ear. Now it’s time to move to the next level! Instead of simply strumming “1, 2, 3, 4” we’re going to learn some more advanced...
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Songwriter’s Secrets: How to Write a Song Without an Instrument
If you have been reading the Songwriter’s Secrets series but don’t play a musical instrument you’ve probably been wondering if it is even possible for you to write a good song without an instrument?...
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Songwriter’s Secrets: Writing Harmonies
How is your song-writing progressing? If you’ve been following along with the Songwriter’s Secrets series so far then at this point you have probably mastered how to write lyrics and a good melody....
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How to Play Chords By Ear: A Roadmap
Have you wished you could hear a song and instantly know what the chords are? To be able to pick up a guitar or sit down at a piano and play along – or maybe improvise a solo over the top? It is...
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Chord Ear Training 101
Dream sequence: you’re preparing to audition for your favorite band. Feeling super-confident, you show up at the rehearsal space and knock on the door. The door opens, and they invite you to join in...
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About the I, IV, V and vi Chords
Chords sometimes referred to with numbers, and chord progressions as a series of numbers, such as I-IV-V or 1-4-5. Find out what these numbers mean, how to build chords on any note in any key, and how...
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Introduction to Chord Progressions
Behind countless unforgettable songs is a simple chord progression. There is definite embellishment: a melody sung overtop, some musical bells and whistles added, and a beat to round out the song....
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Exploring Common Chord Progressions
Harmony in Western music would not exist without chord progressions – much of Western music, especially pop, rock, blues, jazz, and classical, is built on sequences of chords. Creating a chord...
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Circles of Creativity, with Tim Topham
Today on the show we’re joined by one of our favourite people in the world of online music education, and maybe just one of our favourite people in general, and that’s Tim Topham, who heads up...
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Playing by Ear, with Brad Mavin: Adding the 6 Chord
So far in this series we’ve covered the I, IV and V chords. These chords alone power thousands of so-called “three-chord songs” and they are the best starting point for chord progressions ear...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chord Ear Training How-To: Chord Progressions
Learning to play chords by ear and improvise freely over chords are essential ear training goals for many musicians. Chord ear training is a big topic but can be broken into two main skills:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Meet vi, the sad twin of the chord family
Are you looking to play pop songs by ear or improve your music transcription skills? Want to spice up your song-writing? Have you heard of a ‘four chord song’ and wondered what that means? My recent...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Four Chords and the Truth
There’s an old joke that asks: “What’s the difference between a rock guitarist and a jazz guitarist?” Answer: “A rock guitarist plays three chords to a million people and a jazz guitarist plays a...
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Don’t get stuck writing ‘four-chord songs’
If you’ve started to write your own songs, you’ve probably been faced with the same type of ‘blank page’ syndrome all writers face. You know how to play your instrument but whenever you try writing...
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Chord Ear Training 101
Dream sequence: you’re preparing to audition for your favorite band. Feeling super-confident, you show up at the rehearsal space and knock on the door. The door opens, and they invite you to join in...
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