IFR blog > Song analysis
One of Us

The Joan Osborne song "One of Us" (written by Eric Bazilian) is one of countless songs made from just the four foundational chords that we study in IFR Jam Tracks Level 2: Pure Harmony Essentials.

Alison

The Elvis Costello song "Alison" contains just one chord from outside the key of the music. This is the beautiful b7 major chord that we study in IFR Jam Tracks Level 4: Mixed Harmony Essentials.

Ear training with All of Me

This is a practice video for Improvise for Real students who are studying the song ‘All of Me’ from IFR Standards Workout 1. In this video we will practice the IFR ear training exercise Melody Paths over the first two lines of the song.

Harmonic analysis of Ain't Misbehavin'

The opening line of Fats Waller's classic Ain't Misbehavin' gives us an opportunity to understand one of the most common uses of diminished chords, and how to create these sounds in our own improvisations.

Imagine

The haunting verse to John Lennon's "Imagine" is based on a simple alternation between the 1 chord and the 4 chord.

All of Me - Melody breakdown and analysis

In this free video lesson we will walk through the melody to "All of Me" and discover some of the lessons it can teach us as improvisers about the art of melodic phrasing.

One

One

This song uses one of the coolest sounds in modern pop music which is the movement from the 6- chord to the 2D chord.

Losing My Religion

The melancholy angst captured in this song is a lesson in the incredible diversity of emotions that we can express with just the seven notes of the major scale.

Free Fallin'

This great song is an incredible example of what powerful songwriting can do with just three chords.

Have I Told You Lately

Van Morrison's memorable ballad "Have I Told You Lately" is made from just five chords of the major scale. This is a great example of the wide variety of moods and creative possibilities that we find in the sounds of Pure Harmony.