IFR blog > Song analysis
Under the Bridge

In IFR Jam Tracks Level 4: Mixed Harmony Essentials, we study both the b7 chord and the 2D chord. What's interesting about these chords is that they have a very direct relationship with chords 4 and 5D from the major scale.

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.

Yesterday

The Beatles song "Yesterday" uses just two chords from outside the major scale. These two chords give the song its exotic touches making the melody so much more beautiful and memorable.

Wild Horses

The chord progression to this ballad by the Rolling Stones contains two fascinating sounds that are worth studying.

Rocket Man

Elton John was a master of the most subtle details of Mixed Harmony.

Like a Rolling Stone

When you think of the bluesy rock sound of this Bob Dylan classic, it's hard to imagine that the entire song is made from just the seven notes of the major scale.

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Bob Dylan's beautiful ballad uses the "backwards" movement through chords 1, 5D and 2-.

Hallelujah

This classic by Leonard Cohen not only uses the most important chords in our musical system, but even talks about them in the lyrics!

Better Together

This catchy chord progression uses a very melodic bass line to create beautiful chord inversions. 

Harmonic analysis of Bye Bye Blackbird

Despite the almost child-like simplicity of this popular song written by Ray Henderson, Bye Bye Blackbird has become one of the most important jazz standards of all time. In this lesson we analyze the complete chord progression.