The Plagal Cadence: Rock's Signature Sound, Explained

The plagal cadence is perhaps the most iconic sound of rock music, permeating the sound of almost any classic rock band you can think of, from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones, ELO to Guns and Roses, Elton John to Queen, ZZ Top to AC/DC. In this video I'll show you how this seemingly simple idea can be used in a myriad of different variations, each giving a unique harmonic progression or sound. The video will conclude with a musical demonstration that will put all of the idea in context. Enjoy!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Preview
0:12 Introduction
1:03 Part I
3:11 Part II
7:13 Part III
8:56 Part IV
10:03 Part V
12:02 Part VI
14:22 Demonstration

[@Jackleong29]

Brilliant video. So very well structured and presented. Your video is better than university lecture quality. You deserve many many more views and you will get them soon as your talents and videos get more well known and shared over time. ❤

[@STMRecords1]

Brilliant video, so informative and very well communicated

[@MangoldProject]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nigelmartin3339]

These videos just get better. I always learn something new from your videos. Thank you so much for your hard work in putting these together.

[@MangoldProject]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback.

[@keerthisamarasekera6314]

It's a great video. Thanks for explaining the perfect 4th family. It helps very much for new arrangements.

[@QuiEstJohnGalt]

that will clearly step up my musical game

[@nickriviera8731]

Awesome dude, and thank you for all your Hi-Q piano tutorials!

[@MangoldProject]

My pleasure.

[@f.joaquinrevilla]

The last track is awesome Mangold! Thank you for the lesson.

[@MangoldProject]

Thanks! I had a lot of fun recording it.

[@musicNstuff]

Very interesting video, thanks!

[@victorchinagorom8732]

So interesting and smart. Thank you Sir

[@peacenluv2411]

A big thank you❤

[@AltairPSM7]

Thank you for your contents!

[@MangoldProject]

My pleasure!

[@user-ts6mq5ms6m]

Well done Mangold

[@fraso2000]

Thank you for this brilliant video! Just a question: Can you include every chord of the circle of fifths into a plagal family? I have the impression that this is somehow restricted. E.g. Eb > Bb > E doesn’t sound good.

[@MangoldProject]

Yes, you can basically stretch it up to five chords. Nothing's perfect! If you go through the entire circle of fifths you're effectively including EVERY chord, which makes no sense.

[@richoneplanet7561]

Ditto - seriously good video - I think it's also used in Elton John's Grey Seal -

[@MangoldProject]

And many many other tracks.

[@MeleanDialogue]

Really great. I am amateur and confused as I always seen the circle in the other direction i.e. descending 5ths (not descending 4ths).

[@MangoldProject]

Honestly, it doesn't really matter, because you can just swap between clockwise and anticlockwise motion - i.e. between descending 5ths and descending 4ths.

[@ratan155]

Sir like do you have any online classes...

[@MangoldProject]

Well you're in luck - there's an ongoing Jazz Piano for Beginners course that started here on UA-cam just a month or so ago. Here is the playlist, which gets updated on an almost weekly basis:
ua-cam.com/play/PLP9cbwDiLzdIDidDGpu327FLlo9rYJPpB.html