Activity

The songs below feature mixed progressions of chords.

1. Click a song title below. Notice that the software loads the chord sheet and selects the appropriate key and timbre.
2. Click the "Play" button (top right of window) 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 pressing the appropriate chord number along as the music plays. Additionally, you may press the "a" key to toggle on/off auto-accompaniment and the Spacebar to release chords/accompaniment.
   • If required by the song, the appropriate inversion type will switch automatically when the SHIFT key is pressed and a number key is pressed. Note: songs may use added notes beyond the root, 3rd, and 5th of the chord, but we'll be limiting our instrument to only play triads.
4. Using the software as an aid, press the appropriate number keys (1 - 7) within the software to play the chords 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:  Keep Holding On | You Belong With Me | Hit Me With Your Best Shot

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 the software (please don't use any other instrument to help you) as an aid to help you determine the chord progression. 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 the software 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: Bleeding Love | Not Pretty Enough | Zombie

   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:  That's the Way it Is  | You Don't Have to Go

    

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.