I have a question. What makes even a simple blues tune sound interesting?
For example, one could make up a 12-bar blues tune just using 3 chords (I-IV-V) and make it sound interesting on piano. To be honest, blues is fun to listen to and almost never boring. Anyway, I don't understand why it is so prevalent to have 4 chords repeating over and over again in today's music but it does sound like eating only bread for a meal.
When people appreciate architecture, they don't become puzzled that, despite all the unique designs, all the foundations are made of the same thing: concrete.
Now, don't shoot my head off for saying that...I'm just thinking, maybe those chords display something fundamental in the nature of how humans appreciate music.
Maybe...the best music is simple.
Of course, Composer132 would disagree...I probably do too. I'm for both the simple and complex, otherwise I get too much of one kind of thing.
@3E8mps: I can certainly see your point, although at least we know what is so good about the concrete. We know what it's made of. We know what makes it strong.
But I agree: the best music is simple, more often than not. Actually, you couldn't have been more eloquent in saying that the chords might display something fundamental about the nature of humans' musical appreciation.
I might be onto something that could prove just that. ^_^ Stay tuned. Thanks for watching!
What Ytcomposer says is absolutely true. This chord progression is used in many more songs than the one's he mentioned. The thing is, this is mainstream music, most mainstream music all sounds the same, recycling the beat style and chord progressions. The the answer to your question ytcomposer is that its mainstream music. Most people can not appreciate anything other than the simplest beats and chords. If they listened to something unique, complexed, and epic, their brains would go nuts.
and also, songs that have the same chord progression must have the chords your taking about, AND they must follow the same order to be considered "the same chord progression" , you cant just say that they have the same chord PROGRESSIONS just becasue the same chords are used. . . the whole basis behind the word "progression" is that they follow the same ORDER as well. . . hope you get what i mean. . . later
Technically, it is the same order: "c, Ab, Eb, Bb" does have the same pattern as "Ab, Eb, Bb, c." But yes, the _progressions_ ARE different. I just wanted to express how the same chords in the same order (even if the starting chord is different) are used in various songs. I could have said that the pattern was the same, but I wasn't sure how confusing that would be to explain it to folks that don't know music well. You're totally correct about the terminology, though.
Ytcomposer's point is absolutely true, and there are a lot more songs that recycle the same chord progression than the ones he mentioned. The answer to your question is not that they don't have time or skill to come up with something original, rather its because mainstream music is for the public. The public cannot appreciate complicated music. Their brains work to only understand simple music. If a normal person had to listen to unique, epic, complexed chord music, they would not like it.
lmao. . i dont know why for the miley cirus song u dont play the rest of the chorus. . MAYBE BECAUSE THE CHORD PROGRESSION CHANGES. . you dont give them credit for changing it up do you. . . i don't like you play so stiff like a robot ( you have no originality in your style of playing) . . . and also live your life is not the same chord progression. . if it starts from a different chord, well then its a different progression. . the feel of it is entirely different too. . . smh FAIL
Well, I don't mean to say that the songs are bad just because they occassionally use the progression. I just wanted to point out that the progression is extremely common. And yes, "Live Your Life" starts from a different chord, but within the same progression. Even though the feel is different, the same four chords are used. As for me having no originality, I hammered out the chords and melody quickly for the sake of demonstration, so I think you might have missed the point of this video.
cool, there are some songs that wouldve been better examples like ti "whatever you like", lil wayne "lollipop", the fray "you found me", jason mraz "im yours", maino and t pain "all the above". . . so yea i get the point of the video, just that you didnt choose the best songs to point it out becuase like i said, the miley cirus song (the chorus) only the first part is like that, the second half of the chorus is completely different. . . nice video tho peace
ILY oh em gee if only my friends who listen to all this pop stuff would realize that this music isn't anything special and that today's artists need to be more creative!
Your editing skills are on point my friend. Yeah, perhaps it's a comfort thing. People feel comfortable hearing a familiar chord sequence just as they like to hear their favorite songs at open mic or even a lullaby as a child. It's the safety net for the melody. When you first played the chords I heard "With or without you" Other groups of chords can be heard in many popular songs. "Three chords and the truth" as Jimmy used to say.
It does feel like a safety net, actually. I didn't realize how many other new songs ("If I Were a Boy," for example) have the same progression until after I watched my own vid.
My honest guess (and this is just a guess) is (and since you've seen my video, you know I've realized the same thing ;-) ) is that it's just a progression of the time. The "progression in the 50s" was I-vi-IV-V. People hear it and like it, and either consciously or unconsciously they reproduce it. A lot of Christian pop uses the chord progression even more that regular pop.
Hey great videos. I really enjoyed watching them.
I have a question. What makes even a simple blues tune sound interesting?
For example, one could make up a 12-bar blues tune just using 3 chords (I-IV-V) and make it sound interesting on piano. To be honest, blues is fun to listen to and almost never boring. Anyway, I don't understand why it is so prevalent to have 4 chords repeating over and over again in today's music but it does sound like eating only bread for a meal.
SteelTendons 1 year ago
No offence, but I guess the phenomenon is called Kentucky Fried Music...with gravy.
Real chicken don't sell.
farisha13 1 year ago
@farisha13: hehehehe. I suppose not. BUT... I think I finally figured out what makes that progression so good. ^_^ I might make a new vid out of it.
ytcomposer 1 year ago
I never realized songs used the same chord progressions. In fact, I did not know what a chord progression was until I saw this video.
Topg1 1 year ago
@Topg1: I'm glad I could be of some help, although I hope to do a better of job of it in a newer video. I'll try to make that happen soon.
ytcomposer 1 year ago
Comment removed
jonnyfender25 2 years ago
you sir, put it into perspective. i'll keep this in mind.
davidach 2 years ago
When people appreciate architecture, they don't become puzzled that, despite all the unique designs, all the foundations are made of the same thing: concrete.
Now, don't shoot my head off for saying that...I'm just thinking, maybe those chords display something fundamental in the nature of how humans appreciate music.
Maybe...the best music is simple.
Of course, Composer132 would disagree...I probably do too. I'm for both the simple and complex, otherwise I get too much of one kind of thing.
3E8mps 2 years ago
@3E8mps: I can certainly see your point, although at least we know what is so good about the concrete. We know what it's made of. We know what makes it strong.
But I agree: the best music is simple, more often than not. Actually, you couldn't have been more eloquent in saying that the chords might display something fundamental about the nature of humans' musical appreciation.
I might be onto something that could prove just that. ^_^ Stay tuned. Thanks for watching!
ytcomposer 1 year ago
What Ytcomposer says is absolutely true. This chord progression is used in many more songs than the one's he mentioned. The thing is, this is mainstream music, most mainstream music all sounds the same, recycling the beat style and chord progressions. The the answer to your question ytcomposer is that its mainstream music. Most people can not appreciate anything other than the simplest beats and chords. If they listened to something unique, complexed, and epic, their brains would go nuts.
Composer132 2 years ago 2
and also, songs that have the same chord progression must have the chords your taking about, AND they must follow the same order to be considered "the same chord progression" , you cant just say that they have the same chord PROGRESSIONS just becasue the same chords are used. . . the whole basis behind the word "progression" is that they follow the same ORDER as well. . . hope you get what i mean. . . later
TagTeamMusic1 2 years ago
Technically, it is the same order: "c, Ab, Eb, Bb" does have the same pattern as "Ab, Eb, Bb, c." But yes, the _progressions_ ARE different. I just wanted to express how the same chords in the same order (even if the starting chord is different) are used in various songs. I could have said that the pattern was the same, but I wasn't sure how confusing that would be to explain it to folks that don't know music well. You're totally correct about the terminology, though.
ytcomposer 2 years ago
Comment removed
Composer132 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Ytcomposer's point is absolutely true, and there are a lot more songs that recycle the same chord progression than the ones he mentioned. The answer to your question is not that they don't have time or skill to come up with something original, rather its because mainstream music is for the public. The public cannot appreciate complicated music. Their brains work to only understand simple music. If a normal person had to listen to unique, epic, complexed chord music, they would not like it.
Composer132 2 years ago
lmao. . i dont know why for the miley cirus song u dont play the rest of the chorus. . MAYBE BECAUSE THE CHORD PROGRESSION CHANGES. . you dont give them credit for changing it up do you. . . i don't like you play so stiff like a robot ( you have no originality in your style of playing) . . . and also live your life is not the same chord progression. . if it starts from a different chord, well then its a different progression. . the feel of it is entirely different too. . . smh FAIL
TagTeamMusic1 2 years ago
Well, I don't mean to say that the songs are bad just because they occassionally use the progression. I just wanted to point out that the progression is extremely common. And yes, "Live Your Life" starts from a different chord, but within the same progression. Even though the feel is different, the same four chords are used. As for me having no originality, I hammered out the chords and melody quickly for the sake of demonstration, so I think you might have missed the point of this video.
ytcomposer 2 years ago
cool, there are some songs that wouldve been better examples like ti "whatever you like", lil wayne "lollipop", the fray "you found me", jason mraz "im yours", maino and t pain "all the above". . . so yea i get the point of the video, just that you didnt choose the best songs to point it out becuase like i said, the miley cirus song (the chorus) only the first part is like that, the second half of the chorus is completely different. . . nice video tho peace
TagTeamMusic1 2 years ago
Yeah, it is different in the second half. Actually, I didn't think about "Lollipop." Good call on those examples.
ytcomposer 2 years ago
Comment removed
Composer132 2 years ago
I think that the main reason that people use the same progression is because they don't want to take time in making something unique, you know?
AdsumIma 2 years ago
True, but there's something pleasing and comforting about the progression. Can't put my finger on it.
ytcomposer 2 years ago
i agree with
ShadySk8rboy ,you are awesome, and your teory is so true, you deserve a lot more views
jer7ry 3 years ago
I appreciate it!
ytcomposer 2 years ago
damn your awesome on the keyboard dude
ShadySk8rboy 3 years ago
I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
ytcomposer 3 years ago
ILY oh em gee if only my friends who listen to all this pop stuff would realize that this music isn't anything special and that today's artists need to be more creative!
ThatDevilishOne 3 years ago
I sincerely appreciate it. Thanks for watching!
ytcomposer 3 years ago
Your editing skills are on point my friend. Yeah, perhaps it's a comfort thing. People feel comfortable hearing a familiar chord sequence just as they like to hear their favorite songs at open mic or even a lullaby as a child. It's the safety net for the melody. When you first played the chords I heard "With or without you" Other groups of chords can be heard in many popular songs. "Three chords and the truth" as Jimmy used to say.
DCLugi 3 years ago
Coming from you, it speaks volumes, sir. :)
It does feel like a safety net, actually. I didn't realize how many other new songs ("If I Were a Boy," for example) have the same progression until after I watched my own vid.
ytcomposer 3 years ago
That's very true. I suppose it's a trend that will last for quite a while.
Thanks for watching!
ytcomposer 3 years ago
My honest guess (and this is just a guess) is (and since you've seen my video, you know I've realized the same thing ;-) ) is that it's just a progression of the time. The "progression in the 50s" was I-vi-IV-V. People hear it and like it, and either consciously or unconsciously they reproduce it. A lot of Christian pop uses the chord progression even more that regular pop.
jimlapbap 3 years ago