In this lesson we study the uplifting movement from the 1 chord to the 3- chord, which is very common in popular music. First, we are going to sing Melody Paths together over a 1, 3-, 4, 5D chord progression using a jam tack from lesson 9 of IFR Jam Tracks Level 3: Pure Harmony Advanced.
For this exercise, we are going to restrict our definition of the chords to just the triads, except for the 5D chord. By limiting the other chords to just their triads, you can hear even more clearly the precise sound of the 3- chord.
To internalize this movement, I propose two activities:
1) Sing and play over this jam track
In ear training it’s very important to get immersed in the sounds and to experience them first hand. I encourage you to go sing, play, improvise and create your own melody paths over this chord progression. Spend time with the sounds to let your ear absorb the feelings of the chords. Because we are training our relative ear, it’s also important to practice in many keys. You will do all of this in lesson 9 from IFR Jam Tracks Level 3: Pure Harmony Advanced.
2) Listen to the songs in this playlist
Once you are ready, go listen to this playlist I’ve created for you and try to follow the chord changes. All the songs on this playlist include the movement from 1 to 3-, which has a very uplifting and exciting feeling. Here's the Spotify link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/01Hl87BFwJFszqzHblGAJ0?si=ovS-9KAMTZGk4iA_Tkr_pA.
Follow the chords below as you listen to the playlist!
To help you follow the chord changes, below are the chords and the structures of the songs on this playlist:
Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
Intro:
| 1 | 3- | 1 | 3- |
Verse:
| 1 | 3- | 1 | 3- |
| 6- | 4 5D | 6- | 5D |
Chorus:
| 1 | 6- | 1 | 6- |
Girl from the North Country - Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 1 |
Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul and Mary
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | 1 6- | 2D | 5D |
The only chord in this progression which comes from outside the key of the music is 2D. This is one of the chords that we study in IFR Jam Tracks Level 4: Mixed Harmony Essentials.
The Weight - The Band
Verse:
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 1 |
Chorus:
| 1 1/7 | 6- | 1 1/7 | 6- |
| 1 1/7 | 6- | 6- | 6- |
In the first measure of the chorus we have the 1 chord all the time, but the bass is walking down playing note 7 in the second beat of the measure. I notated it as 1/7 which means: the 1 chord with the bass in note 7. So you'll hear the bass walking down: 1, 7, 6.
Happy Hour - The Housemartins
Verse:
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 5D |
Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young
Verse:
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 5D |
Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison
Intro and verse:
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 5D |
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 5D |
| 4 | 4 | 3- | 3- |
| 2- | 5D | 1 | 1 |
Chorus:
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 3- | 3- | 3- | 2- 3- |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 3- | 3- | 5D | 5D |
I Can Hear The Music - The Beach Boys
Intro:
| 1 | 1 |
Verse:
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 5D |
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 4- 5D |
| 4 | 4 | 5D | 5D |
Chorus:
| 1 | 1 | 2- | 5D |
| 1 | 1 | 2- | 5D |
| 1 | 1D | 4 | 4- |
| 1 | 1 | 2- 5D | 1 |
There are two chords from outside the key in this song: 1D and 4-. They are both very common chords in popular music. The 1D chord is the very first chord that we study in IFR Jam Tracks Level 4: Mixed Harmony Essentials.
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
Intro and interlude:
| 1 | 1 | 6- | 6- |
| 4 | 4 | 5D | 5D |
Verse:
| 1 | 1 | 3- | 3- |
| 4 | 4 | 5D | 5D |
(I didn't include the chorus because it has lots of chords from Mixed Harmony.)
I Feel Fine - The Beatles
Verse:
| 1D | 1D | 1D | 1D |
| 5D | 5D | 5D | 4D |
| 1D | 1D |
Chorus:
| 1 | 3- | 4 | 5D |
In the intro and the verse they use blues chords, which are all dominant. They have the same root relationships we have studied in IFR Jam Tracks Level 2: Pure Harmony Essentials (1, 4 and 5D), but all the sevenths of the chords are flatted, giving these chords a bluesy feel. In the chorus they use natural chords from the major scale, and that's what makes the chorus and the verse feel so different.
Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Browne
Verse:
| 1 | 1 | 3- | 3- |
| 6- | 4 | 1 | 1 |
