Next I propose that you get to know the 3- chord in more depth by studying it in different contexts.
IFR materials you will need
For all of the activities described below (and on the subsequent pages), you will need the following two resources:
IFR Jam Tracks Level 3: Pure Harmony Advanced Sing the Numbers 3: Melody Paths
After you have purchased these two courses, all of the links below will take you directly to the appropriate lesson pages.
Let's get started!
We're going to study the 3- chord specifically in combination with its "neighbors", the 2- chord and the 4 chord. For this work I propose the following activities:
1) Practice with IFR Jam Tracks Level 3: Pure Harmony Advanced
Lesson 10 - Chords 4, 3-, 2-, 1 Lesson 11 - Chords 3- and 4 Lesson 12 - Chords 2- and 3-
Practice the following activities over each jam track:
a) Observe the sensation of the 2 chord. Just listen to the backing track and try to feel this chord without playing or singing anything. Just listen and feel. b) Sing/play the roots of the chords over the backing tracks (in many keys). c) Sing/play Melody Paths over the backing tracks (in many keys). The ultimate goal for this exercise is to be able to sing melody paths without the help of the instrument and without having to look at the drawing of the chord columns. d) Improvise freely over the jam tracks.
(Please read all the teaching information that accompanies each jam track and Sing the Numbers track to understand these progressions better.)
2) Sing the Numbers 3: Melody Paths
These two lessons will immerse you in the sounds of the 3- chord and its neighbors, highlighting many beautiful Melody Paths:
Lesson 15 - Chords 2- and 3- Lesson 17 - Chords 3- and 4
3) Playlist of songs with the 3- chord and its neighbors
Here are a few songs that highlight the use of the 3- chord with its neighbors 2- and 4.
Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4E7cFrK43Q0IGUDqT2TIwg?si=027de4a527f04611
505 by Arctic Monkeys
This whole song is a simple alternation between chords 2- and 3-, just like you are studying them in lesson 12 of IFR Jam Tracks Level 3 and lesson 15 of Sing the Numbers 3.
| 2- | 3- | 2- | 3- |
Boys Don't Cry by The Cure
intro:
| 1 | 2- | 3- | 4 ( 4, 3-, 2-)| | 1 | 2- | 3- | 4 ( 4, 3-, 2-)|
verse:
| 1 | 2- | 3- | 4 | | 1 | 2- | 3- | 4 |
refrain:
| 3- | 4 | 3- | 2- | | 3- | 4 | 3- | 2- |
chorus:
| 1 | 2- | 3- | 4 ( 4, 3-, 2-)| | 1 | 2- | 3- | 4 ( 4, 3-, 2-)|
bridge:
| 5D | 6- | 5 | 6- | | 5D | 6- | 4 | 5D |
Nowhere Man by The Beatles
In this song I want you to focus on the chorus, which alternates between chords 3- and 4. I'll give you all the chords so you can follow along, but notice that there is a chord in the verse that we haven't studied yet (the 4- chord).
verse:
| 1 | 5D | 4 | 1 | | 2- | 4- | 1 | 1 |
chorus:
| 3- | 4 | 3- | 4 | | 3- | 2- | 2- | 5D |
Links to all extra activities
Lesson video: Where to go from here? Next steps: The 2- chord in a major context Next steps: The 1, 6-, 2-, 5D progression Next steps: The uplifting movement from 1 to 3- Next steps: Studying the 3- chord with its neighbors Next steps: Chords 2- and 3- in a minor context Next steps: The 6-, 5D, 4, 3- progression Next steps: Studying the 7-b5 chord