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Channel: Chord Progressions | Musical U
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Meet vi, the sad twin of the chord family

Are you looking to play pop songs by ear or improve your music transcription skills? Want to spice up your song-writing? Have you heard of a 'four chord song' and wondered what that means? My recent...

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The most important four-chord progression: vi-IV-I-V

Did you know there is one four-chord progression used more than any other in pop and rock music? Find out what it is and how to use it to play songs by ear. Continue reading →

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Don’t get stuck writing ‘four-chord songs’

If you write songs, you’ve probably been faced with the troubling ‘blank page’ syndrome when choosing chords. Learn how to get unstuck and write better songs. Continue reading →

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The Sexy Secret of “One, Four, Five” (Lisa McCormick)

Being able to play by ear is one of the most desirable skills among musicians. But many people assume it's a gift: you've either got it or you don't. In this series so far I hope we've convinced you...

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Learn to Harmonize By Ear (DaveConservatoire.org)

Harmonization is the process of putting chords to a tune. Learn how to harmonize songs by ear yourself with this easy video tutorial and interactive app. Continue reading →

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Playing by Ear, with Brad Mavin: 1-4-5 Chord Progressions

Want to play songs by ear? This video series shows you how, step-by-step. In the last episode Brad Mavin explained the Cycle of Keys (a.k.a. Circle of Fifths, Cycle of Fifths) and now he'll extend that...

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Why you should learn the I-IV-V chord progression

Discover the formula used by many pop, alternative, indie, country, hymns, gospel, blues, rock, reggae, and more, which lets you play those songs by ear. Continue reading →

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Chord Ear Training How-To: Chord Progressions

Learning to play chords by ear and improvise freely over chords are essential ear training goals for many musicians. Chord ear training is a big topic but can be broken into two main skills:...

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Ear Training Exercises For Playing 3 Chord Songs

Thousands of pop and rock songs rely on just three or four chords and chord progression ear training teaches you to play these chords by ear. It's easy to see why you should learn the popular I-IV-V...

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New Ear Training Album: Popular Progressions!

The new Popular Progressions ear training album teaches you to recognise the most commonly-used chord progressions in real music so you can play songs by ear. Continue reading →

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Start Improvising Today: 10 Mini-Challenges To Try

Improvisation isn't magic: it's a skill you can learn. Surprise! Challenges can actually set you free. These 10 challenges will start you on your journey. Continue reading → The post Start Improvising...

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How to Use the Circle of Fifths

Looking for a key signature, chord progression, or the best melody notes? The Circle of Fifths has it all! Here are some practical uses for the master tool. Continue reading → The post How to Use the...

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Jazz Improvisation: Four Essential Techniques

Much of the elaborate art of jazz can be classified by basic approaches. Let's see how we can be inspired by the masters to create transcendent solos. Continue reading → The post Jazz Improvisation:...

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Arranging for Songwriters, with Nashville Guitar Guru Dave Isaacs

Arranging for song writers can be intimidating but is a vital component to a song's success. Discover the three elements to a musically effective arrangement. Continue reading → The post Arranging for...

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How to Transcribe Music like a Pro: Finding the Key

Knowing the key can save you a lot of head-scratching when transcribing music. Here are some tricks to quickly find the key of a song by ear. Continue reading → The post How to Transcribe Music like a...

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How to Transcribe Music Like a Pro: The Rhythm Section

Transcription takes time. Follow these tips for transcribing bass and chords to speed up the process and amaze yourself with your transcribing abilities. Continue reading → The post How to Transcribe...

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Rock Improvisation Techniques

Rooted in the blues, the language of rock improvisation includes several important scales, licks, expressive techniques, and an unmistakable showmanship. Continue reading → The post Rock Improvisation...

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Tim Topham’s Tools for Creative Teaching

Understanding chords and listening are two prerequisites to creating music often neglected by traditional piano teaching. Tim Topham is changing all that. Continue reading → The post Tim Topham’s Tools...

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Tension and Release: When Scales Meet Chord Progressions

What happens when scales and chord progressions meet? This little exercise will have a big impact on your improvisation, playing by ear, and songwriting. Continue reading → The post Tension and...

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The Secret to Mastering Music Theory, with Shranny

Producer Shranny's vision: universal access to the Circle of Fifths for every musician and music student. Here we reveal his secret plan and labor of love. Continue reading → The post The Secret to...

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