IFR blog > Song analysis
Hey Jude

This beloved Beatles anthem uses just one chord from outside the major scale.

Song for My Father, part 1

Horace Silver's classic "Song for My Father" is a perfect song for beginning improvisers because the entire song is made from just four chords. In this four-part lesson series you will learn to improvise your own solos over the entire form.

Song for My Father, part 2

In this lesson we will explore the second chord that appears in Song for My Father. It's called the 5D chord (pronounced "five dominant chord"). You will learn to improvise over this chord and to create this sound in your music.

Song for My Father, part 3

In this lesson you will learn to improvise over the 4D chord (pronounced "four dominant chord"). This is the first chord that contains a note from outside the key of the music, so you'll see how we approach these chords in IFR.

Song for My Father, part 4

Our fourth and final lesson on Song for My Father covers the 3D chord and gives you the complete chord progression to the song. The lesson includes a free IFR jam track to practice improvising over the entire song.

Sister Golden Hair

If you're looking for a clear example of how each chord of the major scale sounds in a musical context, this classic by America is a gold mine.

Let it Be

The four chords that we study in IFR Jam Tracks Level 2 are the most essential harmonic states in western music. Let it Be is a beautiful example of the journey of emotions that we can express with just these four chords.

Harmonic analysis of Infant Eyes

This special lesson for advanced IFR students offers a complete harmonic analysis of Wayne Shorter's beautiful composition "Infant Eyes".

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