Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course: bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! bit.ly/3wDacU4
This video deeply analyzes John Lennon's Imagine, specifically the chord progressions used to make up the song. In addition, we take a look at the arrangement, production, and other musical choices that all sum up this iconic composition.
Music theory is simply a way to describe what songwriter's have done. All of the composing tricks used in this song were clearly in John Lennon's vocabulary, whether he used their proper academic name (secondary dominant / pedal tone / etc.) is not relevent. What matters is understanding why this composition feels the way it does, and use that knowledge to our own benefit as composers!
Take note- this song was written on piano. Even if you're a lousy key player, you should be able to take these chords to the piano and see how simple of a song it really is. You'll also see how the geometry of the piano itself probably played a giant part in why the song was written the way it was. It falls very easly on the hands.
Special thanks to my Patreon subscribers for making these videos possible! Especially these groovy folks:
Adam Granger
Billyshes
Bradley Bower
Brandon Combs
BuzzWasHere
Christopher Swanson
CrippleMonkey
Daniel Danciu
Darrin Goren
Donal Botkin
Don Dachenhausen III
Don Watters
Erik Lange
Jared Yelton
Joe Buote
John Arnold
jon reddish
Kip Ingram
Linas Orentas
Lord of the Chords Live on Indiegogo Now!
Marc Bulandr
Marek Pawlowski
Markos Zouganelis
Martin
Michael Galli
Morgan M.
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Philip Sharp
Stumann
Sophie SKG
Stephen Marz
Tyler Sherkin
My Patreon: patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
In This Video:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Verse Chords
03:00 Why Voicings Matter
04:15 Creating Melody Within Chords
06:25 Mystery Ninth
07:34 Double Tracking
08:16 Chorus Chords
10:44 Refrain
13:31 Summary
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course: bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! bit.ly/3wDacU4
This video deeply analyzes John Lennon's Imagine, specifically the chord progressions used to make up the song. In addition, we take a look at the arrangement, production, and other musical choices that all sum up this iconic composition.
Music theory is simply a way to describe what songwriter's have done. All of the composing tricks used in this song were clearly in John Lennon's vocabulary, whether he used their proper academic name (secondary dominant / pedal tone / etc.) is not relevent. What matters is understanding why this composition feels the way it does, and use that knowledge to our own benefit as composers!
Take note- this song was written on piano. Even if you're a lousy key player, you should be able to take these chords to the piano and see how simple of a song it really is. You'll also see how the geometry of the piano itself probably played a giant part in why the song was written the way it was. It falls very easly on the hands.
Special thanks to my Patreon subscribers for making these videos possible! Especially these groovy folks:
Adam Granger
Billyshes
Bradley Bower
Brandon Combs
BuzzWasHere
Christopher Swanson
CrippleMonkey
Daniel Danciu
Darrin Goren
Donal Botkin
Don Dachenhausen III
Don Watters
Erik Lange
Jared Yelton
Joe Buote
John Arnold
jon reddish
Kip Ingram
Linas Orentas
Lord of the Chords Live on Indiegogo Now!
Marc Bulandr
Marek Pawlowski
Markos Zouganelis
Martin
Michael Galli
Morgan M.
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Philip Sharp
Stumann
Sophie SKG
Stephen Marz
Tyler Sherkin
My Patreon: patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
In This Video:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Verse Chords
03:00 Why Voicings Matter
04:15 Creating Melody Within Chords
06:25 Mystery Ninth
07:34 Double Tracking
08:16 Chorus Chords
10:44 Refrain
13:31 Summary
![Master Barre Chord Theory and Technique [100% FREE COURSE]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xG3rd1dvTJI/mqdefault.jpg "Master Barre Chord Theory and Technique [100% FREE COURSE]
Get the PDF and enroll in this course: https://signalsmusic.studio/courses/barre-chord
My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
Barre chords are the most frustrating part of learning guitar, but this course should make it much easier! Well begin slowly, and pace ourselves week by week (dont skip ahead unless youre advanced) to build up the techniques and theory required to master this topic.
This course is pay-what-you-want. If you think thats cool and want to support more free lessons like this in the future, youre encouraged to join my Patreon or buy my paid products and courses :)
Table of contents:
0:00:00 What is this video?
0:00:54 Lesson 0: Intro and PreCheck
0:04:27 Lesson 1: Basic Technique
0:16:31 Lesson 2: 6th String Major Shape
0:23:41 Lesson 3: 6th String Minor Shape
0:27:38 Lesson 4: Muted Strums
0:31:16 Lesson 5: Fret Hand Rests
0:37:43 Lesson 6: 5th String Shapes
0:44:56 Lesson 7: Diatonic Barre Chords
0:49:54 Lesson 8: Partial Chords
0:53:50 Lesson 9: Advanced Techniques
0:56:27 Lesson 10: Advanced Studies")
![Improvising In Major Is Insanely Fun. Heres How To Do It! [GUITAR LESSON]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xKbtQM-qzSM/mqdefault.jpg "Improvising In Major Is Insanely Fun. Heres How To Do It! [GUITAR LESSON]
Get the jam track for free: https://signalsmusic.studio/lessons/learn-to-improv-2
My theory course: https://signalsmusic.studio/courses/songwriting-course
Support these lessons and get access to all my mp3s, charts, and extra videos: https://signalsmusic.studio/members or https://www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
This is a follow up to the last lesson I posted on improvising with the minor scale (aka aeolian mode) on guitar, which you can find here: https://signalsmusic.studio/lessons/learn-to-improv. In this lesson, we explore the major scale which is the FOUNDATIONAL scale for understanding theory going forward. However, due to the geometry of the shape we use (and the music tastes of most guitarists), Ive chosen to teach it second instead of first.
There will be a few more lessons in this series, but I have a few other videos in between that Id like to make that arent so guitar-focused, but the next lesson should post in about two weeks or so.
Modal playlist: https://signalsmusic.studio/lessons/series/understanding-the-modes
00:00 Intro
00:24 Major Scale Shape
01:48 Tempo Considerations
03:04 Major Chord Tones
05:45 Playing with the changes
07:52 The FULL Shape
08:59 Pentatonic Major
10:11 New Scale Pattern
11:28 Two Important Licks
13:20 Applying It All
14:23 Is it Major? Or is it Minor?
16:03 Outro
https://www.facebook.com/signalsmusicstudio
https://www.signalsmusicstudio.com")
![Writing Chord Progressions in Harmonic Minor [MUSIC THEORY / SONG WRITING]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xu2ylGI_Gp8/mqdefault.jpg "Writing Chord Progressions in Harmonic Minor [MUSIC THEORY / SONG WRITING]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! https://bit.ly/3wDacU4
Get the PDF Here: https://bit.ly/2mo9Ygk
Confused? Try the Intro to Harmonic Minor: https://bit.ly/2uLEvIT
In this video, we go over the chords in Harmonic Minor and some suggestions on how to put them together in order to write music only using the Harmonic Minor scale.
*All chords are covered with the exception of the Augmented bIII chord. I forgot to mention that the chord is nearly useless to me and I have yet to find a use for it in the context of Harmonic Minor.
I will be posting tabs and the jam tracks on my Patreon page for my subscribers. Special thanks to Linas Orentas for helping sponsor these lessons!
Patreon: https://bit.ly/2zFwzOO
https://www.twitter.com/signals_music
https://www.facebook.com/signalsmusicstudio
https://www.signalsmusicstudio.com
Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:34 Harmonic Minor Scale
03:26 The Diminished Chords
06:13 Writing In Harmonic Minor
07:48 Harmonic and Natural
10:07 Wrapping Up")
![The Secret to Sounding Sad in Major - Mediant Chord [MUSIC THEORY - SONGWRITING LESSON]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y97CwPqDQf8/mqdefault.jpg "The Secret to Sounding Sad in Major - Mediant Chord [MUSIC THEORY - SONGWRITING LESSON]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! https://bit.ly/3wDacU4
When writing in major keys, one quick method to introducing sorrow in to your music is by using the diatonic iii chord, also called the mediant chord. This video will demonstrate several examples of songs and pieces that are written using the mediant chord, as well as advice on how to write progressions that are sad and woeful.
Recommended: 12tones video on this chord - https://youtu.be/xhft-tgPw-w
If you enjoy these lessons you can sponsor them on Patreon! https://bit.ly/2zFwzOO
https://www.twitter.com/signals_music
https://www.facebook.com/signalsmusicstudio
https://www.signalsmusicstudio.com
Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:54 Tonic To Mediant I - iii
01:42 Hey There Delilah Plain White Ts
02:51 Scoring Examples
04:41 It Will Rain Bruno Mars
06:00 A Day In The Life The Beatles
07:01 Wrapping Up")
![What You Didnt Know About What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong [PERFECT PROGRESSIONS #5]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yagFsYdbfE0/mqdefault.jpg "What You Didnt Know About What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong [PERFECT PROGRESSIONS #5]
My COMPLETE Music Theory Course for Songwriters: https://tinyurl.com/yv7uxjre
The Chord Progression Codex: https://tinyurl.com/yytbhyvh
Guitar Tab At My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/signalsmusicstudio
This video is a music theory analysis of Louis Armstrongs What A Wonderful World. I deem the chords in this video to be PERFECT! And analyzing perfect progressions is always a good idea.
Follow along with the free chord charts at home. Theyre provided in the original key of F, and also in C for guitarists (so they can capo at the 5th fret). Heres the link: https://signalsmusic.studio/lessons/what-a-wonderful-world
In this instance, well see all of the following theory topics, which Ive discussed before:
Diatonic Triads In A Key: https://youtu.be/M8eItITv8QA?si=1OjsgLZaiAO2OOcy
Pedal Tones: https://signalsmusicstudio.com/musical-drones-and-pedal-tones/
Turning Triads Into 7th Chords: https://youtu.be/3JizNRwHYNY?si=zXOMDt6jjIDulbfd
Inverted Chords: https://youtu.be/LFN-eKved_8?si=pH94zMdChtpTdPhy
Secondary Dominants: https://youtu.be/py4HaueW50Q?si=DgTitKcm90x9dMrk
Borrowed Chords: https://youtu.be/7IdttvJSedg?si=bRbcYgHal-RzYmJ9
Augmented Chords: https://youtu.be/wNWDjhDo2Ak?si=vJNl5oMMNcOomWlQ
Diminished Chords: https://youtu.be/koulaYcijEE?si=OHNGrEAWjzS8G9V7
I dont have a video teaching Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Sorry!
Special thank you to my Patreon subscribers for supporting my work. These videos would not exist without their help!
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:30 REAL Chords vs Guitar Chords
01:30 Intro Chord Progression
02:21 Verse Chord Progression
05:12 The Hidden Melody Appears...
06:25 Augmented Transition
08:57 Bridge Progression
11:31 Outro Progression
14:55 The Tale Of Larry Newton")
![Motifs and Chords- The Fast and Easy Way to Make Music! [SONGWRITNG - MUSIC THEORY - LESSON]]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z3Dy6Mnp5Og/mqdefault.jpg "Motifs and Chords- The Fast and Easy Way to Make Music! [SONGWRITNG - MUSIC THEORY - LESSON]]
The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course https://bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! https://bit.ly/3wDacU4
Get the ULTIMATE MODAL POSTER and support this channel!: https://bit.ly/2zhk9JV
My Patreon: https://bit.ly/2zFwzOO
This is a lesson on how to write music. There is, of course, no ONE way to write, but this technique is simple, effective, and versatile. At the very worst, you’ll come up with a good starting point off of which to build a piece or song.
The stuff you’ll pretty much need to know is linked below:
Writing Chords in Major https://youtu.be/M8eItITv8QA
Writing Chords in Minor https://youtu.be/j-j4g0ktPGw
Additionally, you’ll want to know a bit about borrowed chords to keep up with my rant at the end
Borrowed Chords: https://youtu.be/7IdttvJSedg
If you’d like to hear my song Generations that I discuss, you can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5Z5Ljhbp3A0
Or listen here: https://signalsmusicstudio.bandcamp.com/track/generations
If this video was too simple for you, I suggest expanding on it by studying reharmonization techniques. It’s a fun and productive way to expand past the redundancy of repeating motifs. I don’t have any videos on the topic (yet) but there is plenty of great info out there from Adam Neely and Aimee Nolte.
Additional Rants:
I didn’t expand on it, but that Bb Augmented chord is basically formed/implied when that melody (E-F#-D) is played on top of a Bb, since Bb-D-F# forms an Aug triad. In the recorded version, the electric guitars play a Bb and an F#, so like an Augmented Powerchord if such a thing exists. The bVI+ itself could be thought of as being borrowed from D Mixolydian b6. It could also easily be assumed as an inverted D Augmented: the voice leading within the chords goes from A to A#/Bb to B, and playing an Aug on the tonic is a good way to move to any chord In the key that has a natural 6th note in it, since the movement from the fifth to the aug fifth will naturally pull the listener to the 6th.
At 06:09 I mention the distance between B and C as a minor 2nd. In this arrangement though, the C occurs an octave higher, meaning we’d call it a minor 9th instead. But in my mind, there is not a giant difference between a 9th and a 2nd. A minor 2nd and a minor 9th “feel”, not sound, the same to me and create the same effect. They have a LOT of the same qualities and characteristics and it’s helpful to think of the intervals as “somewhat the same” even across octaves. The main difference between a m9 and a m2 though is the vast distance between the two clashing notes. When they’re close together (m2) the dissonance is overwhelming, but spacing them apart (m9) an octave makes them more digestable. But in my mind, they are still cut from the same cloth thing- the b2, just different aspects of it.
Also worth meditating on the general awkwardness yet diatonic versatility of a low 7th (B) paired with the a high (C) and what that COULD be. It COULD be part of an inverted C major 7 chord (unlikely), it could be part of an inverted G with an added 4th/11th, or an inverted Emb6… Take away the key and it could imply much more- B7b9, CmMaj7, Ab7#9…
Thanks to my Patreon supporters for making this video possible. I had fun making it and I really am happy with how it turned out, hopefully it gets you writing and shows you a bit more of how easy it can be to get something going.
Special thanks to these fine folks for supporting videos like this one:
Linas Orentas
Joe Buote
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Christopher Swanson
John Arnold
Jon Reddish
Brandon Combs
Sebastian
Morgan M.
Lord of the Chords
Billyshes
Phillip Sharp
Don Watters
Bradley Bower
Marek Pawlowski
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:47 Motifs
01:45 Writing With Motifs
05:13 Modifying The Motif
07:25 Reharmonizing The Motif
09:05 Writing an Ostinato
12:13 Advanced Applications
14:23 Wrapping Up")
