Activity

1. Using a traditional polyphonic instrument like piano or guitar, play a 1, 6, 4, 5 chord progression noting, once again, that, in major keys, the 1, 4, and 5 chords are always major in quality while the 2 and 6 chords are always minor.

The songs below feature the "1 6 4 5" progression

1. Click a song title below.
2. Click the "Play" button to listen to the song once without playing along.
3. Practice playing the song without the music track using the chord sheets provided. The chord sheets provide the number of beats to play each chord number. You may take liberty with the rhythm you use, but stay within the number of beats within the bar.
   • Play along with the music by playing the appropriate chord number for the key as the music plays. Note: songs may use added notes beyond the root, 3rd, and 5th of the chord, as well as suspensions but you may limit your performance to only play triads.
4. Using a traditional polyphonic instrument like piano or guitar, play the appropriate chord function along with the song as it plays.
5. Click on each of the other songs below and play the appropriate progression for each of these songs repeating the process if time allows.

Songs to Play: Just Like a Pill | Stand By Me | Run Around Sue | Somebody's Baby

1. Assignment: Click the songs below and play along. Though the key is provided, chords and progressions for these songs are not, so use your ears and an acoustic instrument an aid to help you determine the chord progression (please don't look up the chords online). Tip: If the progression doesn't sound familiar as a whole, it may be helpful to pick out the movement of the bass line first for each chord. Then, determine if each chord is major or minor in quality as this will help you reduce the number of "trial and error" choices. You can then use an instrument to "trial and error"-match chords for each measure of the progression.
2. As you determine the chords in a song, write down or type out the chords/progressions to create a chord sheet similar to those we've been working with.
3. After you have played along with the song several times and think you have the correct chords, click "show chord sheet" to reveal the chord progressions. Compare the sheet to the one you made.

   Songs to Analyze: Duke of Earl | Already Gone | One of Us

   Assignment: Listen to this audio excerpt below and, without using an instrument or other aid--just your ears--write down the chord progression.

   Name that Progression: You're A God | Swing Swing

    

Please work on this activity for 1 ^1/2 to 2 hours total this week in any way your time allows (spread across several days is recommended) but for no more than 1 ^1/2 to 2 hours per week.