2. That piano piece… Almost everyone can play this on piano: C Am F G C E G A C E G B D F A C
3. Theory The tonic chord I C It’s relative minor VI Am The sub-dominant IV F The dominant V G
4. Transposition The harmonic pattern is fixed regardless of how low/high the song is pitched: G Em C D F Dm Bb C D Bm G A
5. Doo Wop The chord pattern was most common in the 1950’s, especially in vocal harmony ‘doo wop’ pop: ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ The Spaniels ‘Blue Moon’ The Marcels ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ Frankie Lyman ‘Lollipop’ The Chordettes ‘Runaround Sue’ Dion
6. Those magic changes The same chord pattern works in: ‘Return to Sender’ Elvis Presley ‘Mr Postman’ The Marvellettes ‘Unchained Melody’ The Righteous Brothers ‘Stand By Me’ Ben E King ‘We Go Together’ Grease Soundtrack ‘Every Breath You Take’ The Police
7. Super-tonic A variation on the standard pattern is to replace the assertive sub-dominant F chord with the softer super-tonic: C Am Dm G ‘Last Xmas’ Wham ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable’ The Smiths ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Queen ‘Hungry Heart’ Bruce Springsteen ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ Artic Monkeys
8. Other variations… ‘Teenage Kicks’ The Undertones: C // Am // C// Am// F// G // ‘Back For Good’ Take That: C Dm / F G / ‘Let’s Get It On’ Marvin Gaye: C Em/ F G/
9. Other variations… ‘No Woman No Cry’ Bob Marley: C G /Am F ‘With Or Without You’ U2: C /G /Am /F ‘One’ U2: Am/Dm/F /G / x2 C /Am /F /C / x2
10. Other variations… ‘Viva la Vida’ Coldplay: F /G /C /Am/ ‘Monkey Wrench’ Foo Fighters: C /Am /GF /GF C#/ (Chorus)
