Harmony 101: The 2-5-1 Progression (Part 4/4)

The 2-5-1 is probably the most popular harmonic progression there is, featured in countless pop, jazz and rock songs. In these videos we'll delve into the 2-5-1 progression - what it is and when (and how) to use it. Explanations will be accompanied by examples from pop (such as the Beatles' Yesterday) and jazz.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• lesson
• harmony
• progression
• 2-5-1
• jazz
• pop
• music
• theory
• chords
• voicing

[deroarkify]

Thanks so much for your great lessons. But how do you choose notes in the right hand melody from which to base the chords in the left hand's harmony? For instance, when you play ten notes in the right hand, there are only about three chords in the left hand harmony. How do you know what chords to choose when your right hand plays so many different notes belonging to many different chords? I would greatly appreciate an answer. Thanks again for your generosity in posting these videos!

[MangoldProject]

Good question. I'm afraid there are no clear cut answers. In fact, there are multiple ways to harmonize a given melody, so there is not single "right" answer. For example, think about the first line of "Mary had a little lamb". You can accompany it with just a major C triad, but you can also use C (mary) F (had) G (a) C (little lamb) - all major triads. The basic idea is that every melody has "strong", or "prominent" notes which belong to the chords you'll use.

[SetaDeCard0]

Basic tutorials are easy to find in YouTube. More advanced tutorials like yours are like rare, precious stones to keep. Thanks a lot!

[MegaTonyhall]

Thank you for a realy great set of lessons, I have been playing sheet music for many years and would like to switch. Been struggling to play jazz the past year, this has opened up my mind, do you have a course or books available? I have invested in some that has not helped much, from this lesson i am sure you would help me greatly.

[tryme2pls]

i agree, you are a master teacher.

[dinosaursandi]

It took a long time to find videos like that. You're the master! Thank you, you're very kind for posting this stuff!

[SpyroGyraGotTheMagic]

Thanks Assaf for the very good video's! I like that you explain things in a slow and good way. Also your topics are really useful. I would have loved if tou picked a song and started it from let say basic 7th chords and showed how you developed it making better voicings. Also i find it important to develop using rootless voicings. Would have been immense use for me i think. thanks again!

[robertcristy]

thanks mr...your  videos are great lessons

[TheRaizen33]

So the five is built on the tonic note, not the supertonic..

[odairtons]

mestro he seguido los mobientos de sus manos me gustaria saber si puede ponerle sub en español a los videos gracias,,

[TheCorecase]

You are an incredible teacher. I have never found any other videos on youtube that explain as clearly and creatively as you do. I love how you always connect your lessons with popular songs that have been already created. When I see what the science behind all these songs is, it really makes me smile and say, "Wow! That's all there is behind it!" It is very interesting. This is really helping me learn Piano Harmony as that it what I am really working on at the moment. Thank you so much!

[MrPetepetepete]

you are a fantastic teacher. clear & precise. Thank you very much.

[vinbasshred]

thank you talking hands! I learned a lot today.