You Can't Hear This Chord Without Crying.

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  • Опубліковано 29 чер 2024
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,7 тис.

  • @CharlesCornellStudios
    @CharlesCornellStudios  2 роки тому +2539

    Hit me with the best uses of the minor 4 chord that you've heard!

    • @vachevardanyan5623
      @vachevardanyan5623 2 роки тому +27

      What chord choose?F7 or Adim
      And from this( (FACE )(in notes)) FM7 or A7?

    • @vachevardanyan5623
      @vachevardanyan5623 2 роки тому +5

      Please answer

    • @skimaskrick
      @skimaskrick 2 роки тому +92

      Beatles - in my life

    • @JoshuaBurniece
      @JoshuaBurniece 2 роки тому +70

      Princess Leia’s Theme!

    • @mae1712
      @mae1712 2 роки тому +99

      minecraft credits theme is full of so many different uses of it

  • @TheRealGuywithoutaMustache
    @TheRealGuywithoutaMustache 2 роки тому +4375

    Music is just the most effective tool to shape our emotions.

    • @sebastianc.5825
      @sebastianc.5825 2 роки тому +15

      okay mister mustache weeb

    • @ciel777_
      @ciel777_ 2 роки тому +11

      u changed ur pfp :0

    • @aleksey6151
      @aleksey6151 2 роки тому +18

      Are you trying to go undercover with that profile pic?

    • @Gagging_Gagster
      @Gagging_Gagster 2 роки тому +4

      I would argue there are technically more effective ways. For example, if I really wanted to make you cry, do you think I'm going to settle on Adagio for Strings? No! I'm gonna shoot your dog and call it a day.
      /s, for my own safety.

    • @sanomanjiro5748
      @sanomanjiro5748 2 роки тому +1

      Just Some Guy my bro what instrument do you play?

  • @javiator3007
    @javiator3007 2 роки тому +3670

    "Remember Me" from Coco is a wonderful example of how powerful the minor 4 can be

    • @LasagnaTheArtist
      @LasagnaTheArtist 2 роки тому +135

      That is one of the greatest uses of the minor 4. Nostalgic, loving, but tragic.

    • @iconsworld9
      @iconsworld9 2 роки тому +18

      Yes, I agree.

    • @theultimatedragonx
      @theultimatedragonx 2 роки тому +48

      I cry every time I see the main scene featuring that song...

    • @moonl1314
      @moonl1314 2 роки тому +5

      i know a creo song uses it

    • @g3mstic
      @g3mstic 2 роки тому +11

      I agree man, it's just tears everywhere whenever that song shows up in the film

  • @GroovyDominoes
    @GroovyDominoes 2 роки тому +1731

    An even sadder chord than just a regular old minor 4 chord for me is a minor 4 chord with a 6th

    • @ValkyRiver
      @ValkyRiver 2 роки тому +67

      I hear that all the time in Chopin (and Liszt).

    • @joshtheory7172
      @joshtheory7172 2 роки тому +45

      Ah yes the Neapolitan, it just crawls up your back withfuzzy feelings

    • @fallhaunt1952
      @fallhaunt1952 2 роки тому +32

      or a vi minor with a Maj7 (FmMaj7 in C)

    • @alexanderyozzo
      @alexanderyozzo 2 роки тому +6

      @@joshtheory7172 So would that be like an F minor triad over a D in the bass? Like a voicing of D fully diminished?
      Or are you saying an F minor triad over an Ab in the bass? Which one is the neapolitan?

    • @joshtheory7172
      @joshtheory7172 2 роки тому +9

      @@alexanderyozzo The Neapolitan is the chord on the 4th, but out of the minor scale and a 6th instead of a 5th
      So if you have a major your chord on the 4th would be d major
      But now you're using the 4th as a MINOR chord so instead you have d minor
      Swap the 5th in the chord for a 6th in the chord, that is bflat instead of a and you have the Neapolitan in a major: D in the bass and D, F and Bflat (essentially a Bflat major chord) as the rest of the chord
      Works the same in minor, just without the step of making it minor cause it already is

  • @farsawoos
    @farsawoos Рік тому +412

    I literally just started (as a 39 year old man) trying to learn piano. I have ... only the faintest idea what any of the words mean in this video, but I still love watching it. I *love* how stoked Charles gets when instructing on this kinda' stuff, and it honestly makes me excited to start learning how to play. I want to also be excited about this stuff! Don't ever change, Charles!

    • @zackglickert4495
      @zackglickert4495 Рік тому +31

      dude music theory is so interesting when you start to understand why things sound good, best of luck

    • @egilsandnes9637
      @egilsandnes9637 Рік тому +18

      I guess you will understand more if you just get a hold on the basic vocabulary. He explains thing quite well, and I love his enthusiasm. Good luck with your playing!

    • @bigdambluesband6295
      @bigdambluesband6295 Рік тому

      There is a guy on UA-cam, Jonny May who has some interesting videos about playing stuff if you are a beginner. Haven't tried to do a lot of stuff though. I think of the FACE chord, which is the Fmaj7 is one I learned from him. I'm just a blues guitar guy who knows a little theory. You can just hit the white notes and you are playing in C major or A minor (my favorite). For your next piece just play random black keys for something different sounding. Don't mix the white keys and the black keys unless you know what you're doing, which I don't. LOL

    • @benjaminstephens7524
      @benjaminstephens7524 6 місяців тому

      I’ve been doing music since I was 10 and I’m 41 now, but Charles’ videos get me excited about music the way I did back then. Other than that his analyses are great, that’s why I subscribed to his channel. The thing that I love about people these days is seeing them get excited about something.

  • @lmvlmv
    @lmvlmv 2 роки тому +900

    So what I've learned about music theory from Charles is:
    Minor IV in a major key: Star Wars (sad)
    Major IV in a minor key: Avengers

    • @tfwg2017
      @tfwg2017 2 роки тому +10

      Seems pretty accurate to me

    • @evanlecksell576
      @evanlecksell576 2 роки тому +9

      IV in a minor key gets used in the force theme and it conveys a really powerful sense of hope. You can find it here at 0:18 :) ua-cam.com/video/1gpXMGit4P8/v-deo.html

    • @OdaKa
      @OdaKa 2 роки тому +4

      is it redundant to spell it "Minor iv" in lowercase?

    • @tfwg2017
      @tfwg2017 2 роки тому +2

      @@OdaKa I think so. Cause as a musician you see lower case numerals you automatically think "Oh that's minor" lmao

    • @shadowfire3827
      @shadowfire3827 2 роки тому +4

      I think that it is because when you add the major IV to a minor key, it turns the mode from minor to dorian, which gives the music a tinge of hopefulness from the slightly brighter mode

  • @vinceblanket1327
    @vinceblanket1327 2 роки тому +1775

    The nice thing about your videos is that even if you already know the music theory you talk about, it's still fun to watch your videos because your enthusiasm for it is so captivating.

  • @MythWish407
    @MythWish407 2 роки тому +97

    I love how excited he gets. Seeing him get all hyped about chords gets me really hyped about chords.

  • @xanderboots3672
    @xanderboots3672 2 роки тому +67

    My wife walked down the isle to Leia's theme and now I can never hear that song without being transported to that beautiful moment in my life. Incredible how that short portion you played elicited such a strong emotional response in me.
    Also, just wanted to say, your videos are really interesting to watch. Your enthusiasm and clear love of music is infectious and engaging. I always rush to my keyboard after watching and play around with what I had learned. I'm sure many viewers would agree that your channel is a treasure.

  • @chrism3790
    @chrism3790 2 роки тому +881

    Disney's recent movie "Encanto" has a song called "Dos Oruguitas" that also employs this cadence. It's used in the most dramatic scene of the film, when the main characters reconcile after they realize that their anger almost destroyed their family. It's a nice chord progression with an inner voice moving chromatically from C down to G: I-iii-I7-IV-iv-I. My wife was crying her eyes out during the scene lol.
    However, I would argue that the iv-I cadence is still not as strong as a regular V7-I, because it does not have a tritone. But it originates from a minor chord, so the flavor is completely different. It has a delicate, nostalgic and sad feeling that the regular V-I doesn't have.
    I tend to think of the V-I as a triumphant and victorious resolution, while the iv-I is more of a "make peace with sadness" kind of resolution.
    I especially like the "journey" aspect of it. The classic cadences of IV-V-I or the ii-V-I are returning home through the V, the dominant, triumphant road. The IV-iv-I and the ii-iv-I are instead going through pain and suffering to get home.

    • @ThatBish380
      @ThatBish380 2 роки тому +11

      Definitely, also Surface Pressure

    • @jasminedragon9
      @jasminedragon9 2 роки тому +3

      Beautifully said!

    • @LasagnaTheArtist
      @LasagnaTheArtist 2 роки тому +3

      I never realized that song used a minor 4, I’m never gonna be able to unhear that now! It makes sense- that song does make me cry almost every time I hear it. And of course they wouldn’t pull any punches for the emotional climax of the film.
      Btw not to be that guy, but the song is called “Dos Oruguitas” :)

    • @karltorento3358
      @karltorento3358 2 роки тому +3

      Holy smokes dude so I was going to learn Dos Orguitas because I’ve been meaning to for a while. Then I said, hey why don’t I watch this Charles Cornell video first for some inspiration. Mind blown at how subconsciously, I gravitated towards the same thing.

    • @Lenape_Lady
      @Lenape_Lady 2 роки тому +2

      WTF are you a mind reader???? That’s LITERALLY the song I thought of when I heard this. I was just coming to comment this. That song immediately makes me cry and I dont even understand the lyrics but I FEEL what it means. I don’t know anything about music. Just found this channel today randomly.

  • @marlzc123
    @marlzc123 2 роки тому +656

    this chord works literally everywhere, as far back as liszt’s second consolation all the way to film score and even hug all ur friends by cavetown, it is AMAZING

    • @mellot00th
      @mellot00th 2 роки тому +2

      YUHHH CAVETOWn

    • @theosilio9937
      @theosilio9937 2 роки тому +1

      CAVETOWN

    • @maximumphlegm
      @maximumphlegm 2 роки тому +1

      CAVETOWNNN

    • @Vexalord
      @Vexalord Рік тому

      It's liszt's consolation and not consolidation xD

    • @marlzc123
      @marlzc123 Рік тому

      @@Vexalord thank you for pointing out the autocorrect mistake a year after the comment was made, i feel stupid for not noticing sooner 😂

  • @laurenrogers
    @laurenrogers 2 роки тому +77

    I loved that you said “that happy-sad” feeling, because I’m currently in a production of The Addams Family musical and there’s literally a song called Happy/Sad which has a beautiful use of the minor 4 chord!

    • @ThereaalSP
      @ThereaalSP Рік тому +4

      YES happy/sad is sooo good

  • @helgijonsson3537
    @helgijonsson3537 2 роки тому +150

    Dvorak - New World Symphony has possibly the greatest use of this particular chord progression. There's a recurring melody in the 2nd movement, which is harmonized with a major 4 chord for almost the entire piece, then finally around the 10 minute mark it uses a minor 4 which sounds INCREDIBLY cathartic. Gives me goosebumps every time.
    All By Myself also uses this cadence in the verses.

    • @ecksdee9768
      @ecksdee9768 Рік тому +7

      you've probably heard this before, but the melody of all by myself is actually from rachmaninoff's second concerto! (2nd mvt.)
      i recommend listening to the entire 2nd concerto because the final melody of the 3rd movement hits you in the feels with the minor 4 usage.

  • @luxferredesu3889
    @luxferredesu3889 2 роки тому +1196

    I love how most of The Beatles' members doesn't even know much about music theory but still manages to create this kind of compositions.

    • @blankyd3360
      @blankyd3360 2 роки тому +61

      They knew and covered a lot of songs from all sorts of genres. That's where they got it from

    • @chrisjamesr77
      @chrisjamesr77 Рік тому +103

      I think, in a way, they (along with a lot of other artists who weren't formally trained) kinda DID know music theory, without knowing they knew it. Like, they knew that different sorts of chord progressions and such work, and produce different kinds of sounds, even if they couldn't sit there and say "well this a plagal cadence so therefore blah blah blah"

    • @WigganNuG
      @WigganNuG Рік тому +23

      Paul was the actual musician in the group though. He may not have gone into depth analyzing like Charles here, but he surely new of that technique of using the minor IV.

    • @uncroppedsoop
      @uncroppedsoop Рік тому +31

      @@chrisjamesr77 this. You can have a lot of practical knowledge with it. I've had a friend tell me I'm pretty good at composing theory-wise, despite my actual knowledge and ability to list things off being very simple and limited. Spend enough time writing things and you start to understand it better without the need to even name these things, even if it takes time

    • @chrisjamesr77
      @chrisjamesr77 Рік тому +3

      @@uncroppedsoop Exactly! I know a fair bit of theory myself, mainly from watching videos like this one lol, but I don't know if it's really made my composing any better, other than that maybe I've been inspired to try a few things that I've learned about.

  • @b_d15
    @b_d15 2 роки тому +635

    I always described plagal cadences as a feeling of “longing”.
    Examples: Creep - Radiohead, In My Life - Beatles, Remember Me - Coco, Last Night on Earth - Green Day, Forrest Gump - Frank Ocean, Are We Still Friends - Tyler the Creator, Fallen Down - Undertale, To Binge - Gorillaz

    • @chowbow573
      @chowbow573 2 роки тому +11

      Try listening to Melancholy Blues by Queen

    • @robertdahlstrom
      @robertdahlstrom 2 роки тому +9

      I couldn't help but hear Bridge over Troubled Water in that IV-I explanation.

    • @toddpacker4683
      @toddpacker4683 2 роки тому +2

      Buddy holly by Weezer is a good one

    • @kylechua2220
      @kylechua2220 2 роки тому +8

      another good one is savior complex by phoebe bridgers

    • @finnthedog1201
      @finnthedog1201 2 роки тому

      YES I always wondered why that one got so hard

  • @InktoAngie18
    @InktoAngie18 2 роки тому +43

    "Music sounds like feelings feel".. this is something my band teacher taught me while I was in school.. and nothing has ever been more true to me when learning musical impacts on people.. I will admit that I usually cry at most movie or game scenes ALL because of the music compelling my emotions to spike as such.

  • @rzk2755
    @rzk2755 Рік тому +136

    I've never found a better example than Radiohead's Creep where it's done similarly to the Beatles song you've mentioned. The whole chord progression of Creep's chorus is miraculous. It goes from I (C) to major III (with a 7, at least my ear really enjoys turning it into an E7), then to IV and finally minor IV. Such strong movements and resolutions packed so tightly. It always hit me hard when listening to it.

    • @chambeet
      @chambeet Рік тому +2

      10/10 song.

    • @timmah4476
      @timmah4476 Рік тому +3

      That major III7 would be functioning as a secondary dominant.. that would want to resolve to vi but then using a IV chord is clever because it’s a chord substitution of vi sharing 2 of the same chord tones.. then that IV -> iv -> I is gorgeous! Radiohead get that balance of talent / theory / storytelling / social commentary and outstanding musicianship with pushing the envelope and defying expectations SO right! Love the Leia’s Theme - absolutely gorgeous.. the leap up of a 6th giving that hopeful but inherently emotional feeling - masterful writing from Williams 👌🏼

    • @timmah4476
      @timmah4476 Рік тому +2

      The Beatles used lots of secondary dominants as well - sounds ‘peppy’ and unexpectedly jolly 😂😂

    • @splankhoon
      @splankhoon Рік тому +2

      That 'Creep' progression is actually used on a big seventies hit by The Hollies called "The Air That I Breathe". It has a wonderful melody line and a great chorus. Yorke and co know the song for sure.

    • @2degucitas
      @2degucitas Рік тому +2

      ​@@splankhoon I'm sure what you're saying is that The Air that I Breathe is what Creep is based on.

  • @orionvandenberg5328
    @orionvandenberg5328 2 роки тому +190

    This is a hauntingly fitting video for the events of my day. I just learned a few hours ago that my first music teacher, who has been an impactful part of my life for the last 7 years, passed away suddenly this morning as a result of illness. Really just a great video to cry to and reminisce. Thank you, Charles Cornell, I needed this.

  • @teodorb.p.composer
    @teodorb.p.composer Рік тому +23

    As a classical music composer I can say that this chord progression is extremelly important it can capture any emotion (therefore it was many times used be Liszt, Chopin, Alkan and other composers of romantism).

    • @thelightknight4772
      @thelightknight4772 Рік тому

      idk why the chords just reminded me of the song Jawbreaker in the game Geometry Dash

  • @mdas5425
    @mdas5425 2 роки тому +19

    This chord is often heard in some Pokemon games when certain things happen and the soundtrack always makes me feel nostalgic and gives a wave happiness.

    • @jimskywaker4345
      @jimskywaker4345 Рік тому +1

      let me guess, mystery dungeon games?

    • @sydposting
      @sydposting 7 місяців тому

      @@jimskywaker4345 Surf theme from Gold/Silver/Crystal was what I was thinking of. (Was just listening to it and went looking for this video afterward lol)

  • @honeycheerios42
    @honeycheerios42 2 роки тому +371

    My dissertation was about this stuff. I did a study on a particular aspect of the emotion and music link and it still completely blows my mind how deeply they are connected. More of this please!

    • @LegoKiva
      @LegoKiva 2 роки тому +10

      Is that somewhere online to be read? Sounds like a super cool study

    • @kata.narancic
      @kata.narancic 2 роки тому +2

      if it's available to the public, I'd love to read that too!

    • @honeycheerios42
      @honeycheerios42 2 роки тому +29

      I'm afraid not, it was undergrad and looking back now it would definitely need some edits 😬
      As a very brief summary though, I interviewed composers and asked them to choose a 30 second excerpt of their music they believed to be strongly emotional. I then surveyed people online, asking them to describe what they felt when hearing the excerpts and what they thought the composer intended them to feel. Long story short - there's no correlation!

    • @kata.narancic
      @kata.narancic 2 роки тому +1

      @@honeycheerios42 oh well 😂 but yes, it's a very interesting subject

  • @SeraphsWitness
    @SeraphsWitness 2 роки тому +108

    Leia's theme might be one of my favorite compositions of all time. Evokes the character, sets the tone... perfectly. All without feeling too sappy and heavy-handed.

    • @WyattWinters
      @WyattWinters 2 роки тому +3

      This, and Marion’s theme from raiders (albeit very similar compositions), are both phenomenal.

  • @magikaxolotl894
    @magikaxolotl894 2 роки тому +26

    E7 is a great chord that has this same feeling also. It’s used in this way in two songs that genuinely made me cry “Things We Used To Share” by Thomas Sanders, and “Skeleton Appreciation Day in Vestal, NY” by Will Wood and the Tapeworms

    • @kmations4049
      @kmations4049 Рік тому +2

      I DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE EITHER OF THOSE MENTIONED AT ALL, BUT IN THE SAME PLACE?????? WOW
      Hi. I'm a huge Will Wood fan & used to be a huge Thomas Sanders fan.

  • @jake6112
    @jake6112 Рік тому +10

    Busonni’s piano transcription of Bach’s chaconne in Gm begins with this. It hits you immediately.

  • @55avenger
    @55avenger 2 роки тому +387

    There were a bunch of songs that I loved that had a similar nostalgic bitter-sweet sound to them. I figured out one day that they all have a minor 4 chord in a major progression and it made me really appreciate the value of learning a bit of theory.

    • @bastienfelix4605
      @bastienfelix4605 2 роки тому +1

      Take me home, country roads

    • @jobfernandez9274
      @jobfernandez9274 2 роки тому +1

      Where do you learn music theory? I also really wanna get into it but i just don't know where to start, i can't afford any lessons cause my life is still a bit messy. I play guitar and piano btw

    • @ckannan90
      @ckannan90 2 роки тому +3

      @@jobfernandez9274 Signals Music Studio has many videos that are very application oriented, with a guitar focus

    • @imlafonz8047
      @imlafonz8047 2 роки тому

      @@bastienfelix4605 I don’t think that song has a iv chord

    • @bastienfelix4605
      @bastienfelix4605 2 роки тому

      @@imlafonz8047 maybe not but it sounds far better with one

  • @flowerene2630
    @flowerene2630 2 роки тому +348

    The chord. The second I heard it my brain immediately went to Final Duet. That scene in Omori genuinely made me cry so many times- it’s just so… bittersweet. I love it.

    • @scottylightheart7180
      @scottylightheart7180 2 роки тому +15

      i came here to comment this and i’m glad someone beat me to it :)
      that game’s soundtrack is just unfathomably good

    • @andreapuddu6893
      @andreapuddu6893 2 роки тому +12

      Yep. When he played the chords in the first minute i was like "THIS IS DUET"

    • @jessbian3385
      @jessbian3385 2 роки тому +4

      OK YES, I wasn’t sure but I thought I heard final duet in the minor 4.

    • @SonicntZane
      @SonicntZane Рік тому +3

      I'm convinced that entire song was a buildup to that sting of minor 4

    • @samblehhhhh
      @samblehhhhh Рік тому +1

      THATS WHAT IM SAYING

  • @morgancasey3223
    @morgancasey3223 2 роки тому +13

    space oddity goes between the IV and the iv a lot in a really effective way, plus the III in the chorus which is always so satisfying to hear. it's great how much it toys with the idea of hope and sadness so effectively.

  • @Chadner
    @Chadner Рік тому +9

    Creep by Radiohead is a great example of a simple yet powerful chord progression. I III (picadilly third) IV iv. The first half builds it as if great things were about to happen only to crumble in dismay in the second half. Like the life story of the song's proragonist. First they add the major III with the D# as a note outside the scale to add brightness (hope) then when the minor iv hits, that same note D# conveys darkness (hopelessness).

    • @splankhoon
      @splankhoon Рік тому +2

      You mean a Picardy third. 🙂

  • @ShaggyOtis
    @ShaggyOtis 2 роки тому +218

    I always refer to that playfully as the “romantic chord,” especially when it’s got the major 7th

    • @luukipuuk3537
      @luukipuuk3537 2 роки тому +26

      So that'd be C - FmMaj7?
      Dude I ran to my piano after writing that first sentence because I realised the Maj7 of an F chord would be the third of C. That sequence alone already sounds so dope.

    • @ShaggyOtis
      @ShaggyOtis 2 роки тому +12

      @@luukipuuk3537 exactly! Love love love it. Or mess around with variations of IIdim in place of the the IVm/M7

    • @youpiano5972
      @youpiano5972 2 роки тому +5

      Yeah especially if that major 7th then goes down to the 6th of the chord creating a wonderful IVmin6 chord (so if we're in C major that chord would be F - Ab - C - D)

    • @eelkedeboer1724
      @eelkedeboer1724 2 роки тому +4

      @@luukipuuk3537 The same is true for a dominant 13 chord. The 13 of G is the major 3rd of C. I loved discovering that.

  • @lydiareifsnyder9782
    @lydiareifsnyder9782 2 роки тому +84

    "When Somebody Loved Me" from the Toy Story 2 soundtrack uses the minor iv chord in the most devastating way. It's the final chord to a descending 4 chord pattern in the beginning, if that makes sense, and it immediately lets you know that this song is going to be sad and will make you cry. It's also used briefly again when the song goes to the bridge and takes a darker turn.
    I LOVE the minor iv chord, and its sibling the Major IV chord in a minor key song. Just the unexpected change of the 6th note in the key gets to my SOUL every time.

    • @briangruenewald7536
      @briangruenewald7536 2 роки тому +1

      😭 GAH MY HEART 💔

    • @Love-Is-Kind
      @Love-Is-Kind 2 роки тому +1

      🥺🥺🥺 I know the exact song you’re talking about… 😭😭😭 It plucked the strings to my ticker ❤️‍🩹 pretty hard.

    • @walcneon
      @walcneon Рік тому

      This song crushes me. You’re totally right-that iv-I in that intro is just… ouch. My heart…

  • @shagerg2238
    @shagerg2238 2 роки тому +10

    I’m honestly so impressed at how well Charles explains stuff, I feel like I learn so much in every video, now I’m seriously considering joining the improv class

  • @joseph-fernando-piano
    @joseph-fernando-piano 2 роки тому +9

    A great use of the minor 4 chord is in the final cadence of Chopin's Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49, where a d-flat minor chord resolves to A-flat major, with the soprano voice rising by an octave... within the realm of "classical music", it's a really refreshing change from the typical V7 to I that ends most works...

  • @pup64hcp
    @pup64hcp 2 роки тому +77

    I've been raving about the IV-iv-I resolution for MONTHS after I figured out it's in some of my favorite songs. Thank you so much for making a video on this!!

    • @onionsalled5376
      @onionsalled5376 2 роки тому +4

      Yeah I've been obsessed over the IV-iv-I before I even knew what it was lol. Like noodling around on guitar and coming up with something I almost always throw it in there somehow and it makes me so mad like FIND SOMETHING NEW GAHHH

  • @chokemetheo4840
    @chokemetheo4840 2 роки тому +136

    Another good example of this Minor 4 chord is Céline Dion's song All by Myself. And as Charles said, it adds so much emotion. Great explanation video!

    • @104ist
      @104ist 2 роки тому +13

      Or Eric Carmen’s All By Myself, even

    • @cliffprowse3341
      @cliffprowse3341 2 роки тому +39

      You mean Eric Carmen’s song that Dion covered? Which was really from Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto No. 2
      Great use of that change.

    • @chokemetheo4840
      @chokemetheo4840 2 роки тому +7

      @@cliffprowse3341 The more you learn :)

    • @wallyt4873
      @wallyt4873 2 роки тому +8

      Adam Neely made a video on that song

    • @mrwassef
      @mrwassef 2 роки тому +1

      I see most of us have seen the Adam Neely video on this haha

  • @aleksphotographyandotherth6323

    I love how attached you are to your music. I feel all the emotions your feeling and I am so happy that you show others the same.

  • @MarceloGarcia9
    @MarceloGarcia9 Рік тому +7

    So true about the minor 4 chord making you cry. The moment E.T. holds up his healing finger to Elliot and says “I’ll be right here” and goes to that same D to G minor, my heart sinks to my stomach and my eyes become fish tanks

  • @teokure5427
    @teokure5427 2 роки тому +183

    I recently learned of the "Black Adder Chord" (name according to "Ongaku Concept") which is a great sounding tension chord. I'd love to see a good breakdown of how this chord works.

    • @SlyHikari03
      @SlyHikari03 2 роки тому +4

      Ah yes.
      I’m on their discord.
      I love Ongaku Concept.

    • @HelloHello-vk5ob
      @HelloHello-vk5ob 2 роки тому +4

      YES! I love that chord so much, its so interesting

    • @pgpete
      @pgpete 2 роки тому +4

      My lord I have a cunning plan........

    • @nuberiffic
      @nuberiffic 2 роки тому

      ...what is that chord?

    • @HelloHello-vk5ob
      @HelloHello-vk5ob 2 роки тому +6

      @@nuberiffic its basically an augmented chord over the note a whole step up from the root, so like a C+/D or Eb+/F or an augmented chord over its 9th

  • @overtone55
    @overtone55 2 роки тому +35

    One of my favourite uses of this is in Bruno Mars' When I was your man. I love the way he sets it in the chorus. The first two lines are V -> IV -> V -> I and I -> IV -> V -> I. The third and fourth lines he goes from I->IV->V->vi->II7->IV->iv->I. The reason it's so powerful is that he sets the expectation that IV is going to V and then I. When you hit the IV->V and it goes to vi, it catches you a bit off guard. Then it moves down the circle of fifths to II7, which has been minor during the verse. When the minor four actually comes it's a pure, nostalgic, tragic thing. "Now my baby's dancing, but she's dancing with another man".

  • @xNoodlePlayz
    @xNoodlePlayz 2 роки тому +28

    My personal favorite song to use this courd is "Duet" from Omori. It gives such a strong feeling with the high sound of the violin with the light sound of the piano. I really recommend listening to it. It's such an inspiring and beautiful piece of music.

  • @Chris-zi1we
    @Chris-zi1we 2 роки тому +2

    The minor 4th resolution always gave me a sense of sad but accepting nostalgia. Like a grandma going through old photos of passed loved ones, sad that they're gone but happy from all the memories.

  • @felixtheduke8404
    @felixtheduke8404 2 роки тому +42

    At 2:50 I had a huge realization. That sounded like it came from I Hear a Symphony from Cody Fry. That whole song sounds like he took D major and waltzed with it. It is so beautiful. Listen to the crescendo! It's exactly what was played at the time stamp!

    • @so_phster
      @so_phster Рік тому

      I love that song SO much!

  • @edu_moonwalker
    @edu_moonwalker 2 роки тому +14

    This explains why The Lion King by Hans Zimmer makes me cry a lot.
    Turn off that you know what's behind the music, Mufasa Death, Simba getting to see his father through the clouds saying "Remember who you are" and stuff like that.
    Those chords man, I truly cry a lot just hearing some specific tracks of the score!

  • @GlaniastyD
    @GlaniastyD Рік тому +8

    I love how you make music theory look interesting and how you make me actually wanna learn it because of the fun and energy you put in that❤

  • @CoffeeSprocket
    @CoffeeSprocket Рік тому +1

    This video popped up in my recommended videos and I am SO glad I clicked on it! I absolutely love your excitement and enthusiasm for talking about music and the theory/structure of music, and the way you explain everything is great. Your passion is obvious and is so relatable because I love music so much as well. It's also been over a decade since I took my college-level music theory classes, and you brought back a whole lot of concepts that I haven't applied in a long time. Thank you so much, and I'm so excited to watch more of your videos!!

  • @JGooden762
    @JGooden762 2 роки тому +102

    For me, the feeling of the minor fourth resolution is nostalgic. I think it's brilliant that it plays so strongly in Leia's Theme because you begin the peice with the triumphant and elegant-sounding fifth to third jump at the beginning (which is a modified reversal of Luke's theme) and immediately move into that melancholy nostalgic sound of the minor fourth. It's insane how much John William's music speaks to the characters in the films. You have the Princess with all her elegance and grace, but her life is marred by war and loss and the shadow of all she left behind. If you knew nothing else about Leia and only heard that theme, you would already know enough about her to empathize with her. I like the Beatles example too with the chromatic progression because it adds a kind of insecurity to it. It's like you receive a situation (the fourth), you contemplate on the implications of that situation and how it relates to your past or your trauma (the minor fourth), and then you resolve with a decision or action (the first).

  • @alicelima2320
    @alicelima2320 2 роки тому +26

    It's sentimental, it feels happy and sad at the same time, it's almost like a feeling of nostalgia. It's absolutely *beautiful*.

  • @sonny2593
    @sonny2593 Рік тому +1

    I'm so impressed that you were just thinking of sounds you wanted to hear as you were talking and your fingers just... made them. Well done 😊

  • @steamcode4441
    @steamcode4441 2 роки тому +6

    It's amazing just how much of the range of human experience can be conveyed with music

  • @emilyepp7238
    @emilyepp7238 2 роки тому +54

    The end of Liszt's second consolidation. Played the piece for my senior recital. One of my favorite applications of the beautiful chord.

    • @knoxtheox897
      @knoxtheox897 2 роки тому +5

      Most of Liszt’s smaller piano pieces use the chord I think

    • @emilyepp7238
      @emilyepp7238 2 роки тому +1

      @@knoxtheox897 yes, I did consolations 1 and 3 as well. He loved to use that chord, it's so stately for romantic era!

    • @dang5874
      @dang5874 2 роки тому +3

      He also uses it in the second theme of his Liebestraum n. 3

    • @michielhorikx9863
      @michielhorikx9863 2 роки тому +3

      I thought of the end of Chopin's Revolutionary etude, and it does seem like that uses this as well.

  • @JbPianiste
    @JbPianiste 2 роки тому +41

    Ashitaka and San by Joe Hisaishi (Princess Mononoke), Creep by Radiohead, Ain't nobody Business What We Do by Freddie King, AND the Super Mario Bros traditional game over/death theme, all of them use so hard the minor iv ! So nice !!

    • @jonahlouque9621
      @jonahlouque9621 2 роки тому +1

      The link between Radiohead and film music is insane, they basically write music for movies that don't exist. Ashitaka and San is also one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.

  • @danielcummins5092
    @danielcummins5092 2 роки тому +3

    I literally got chills when you played the IV > iv > I -- LOVE that progression

  • @brianjay9811
    @brianjay9811 9 місяців тому

    So this is why "Jar of Hearts" has always moved me! I knew it was special and often played those amazing chords on the piano...

  • @herDORKK007
    @herDORKK007 2 роки тому +38

    1973 single “Love’s Theme” written by Barry White, Recorded and Released by The Love Unlimited Orchestra, uses the minor 4 chord in a groovy way! Overall, great orchestral/disco song!

  • @cameronc6685
    @cameronc6685 2 роки тому +55

    The bridge to "Lately" by Stevie Wonder. The lyrics are perfect! Honestly one of the best and most underrated songs of all time

    • @mrlofi333
      @mrlofi333 2 роки тому +3

      That Jodeci cover is ther cherry on top

    • @joeobyrne9348
      @joeobyrne9348 2 роки тому +2

      Stevie Wonder is a master of using this. There's a whole video on how Stevie Wonder uses the chord progression I, I7, IV, iv in a lot of songs, but they never sound the same!
      ua-cam.com/video/3Gj0vl2zI58/v-deo.html

    • @musicis1
      @musicis1 2 роки тому

      He also uses it in "You and I" & "Evil"

  • @samueldrapeau9106
    @samueldrapeau9106 2 роки тому +2

    You explain very well, I've done Music Theory in college and I can say you are very good at simplifying the thing and make it sound easier than my teacher did x)

  • @randomizerca
    @randomizerca Рік тому +4

    Oh my gosh - where have you been all my life? I just stumbled across this video, and I'm hooked.
    I bet there are examples of this resolution in hymns of all flavors (especially the sentimental ones). I can just hear the "ah-ah-men" in the chord progression.
    Great work.

  • @protostargaming3972
    @protostargaming3972 2 роки тому +35

    Minor Plagal Cadence is the first lesson in theory i ever watched, the Signals Music Studio lesson. It holds a special place in my heart because of it

    • @louiswils3362
      @louiswils3362 2 роки тому

      Same!! I love that channel

    • @phillipwalk3r
      @phillipwalk3r 2 роки тому +1

      Mine was microtonal notes, I think it was a Jacob Collier song review

    • @sourjyabanerjee9310
      @sourjyabanerjee9310 Рік тому

      The devastating last two bars from the first movement of Brahms symphony no.4 🥺

  • @jorisropital5901
    @jorisropital5901 2 роки тому +24

    Based off of this major I - minor IV repetition, one hauntigly depressing resolution is to end up resolving from the minor IV to the minor VI;
    this chord just hits hard because you expected a rather hopeful resolution and got something even more hopeless
    Love it!

  • @trangnhaaaa
    @trangnhaaaa Рік тому

    I've been so curious about how harmony creates/affects emotion. This video is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you for your clear & helpful explanation.

  • @h0lyrs422
    @h0lyrs422 2 роки тому

    I've always wondered why I love F -> Fm -> C, and now I know. Thanks Charles!!

  • @Defiantclash
    @Defiantclash 2 роки тому +20

    Last thing and I’m done. Don’t forget to “add 9” from the main key, on that minor 4!!!! Fire 🔥

    • @Defiantclash
      @Defiantclash 2 роки тому

      @@michellemonet4358 absolutely!!!!

  • @madisonholtze7344
    @madisonholtze7344 2 роки тому +30

    Minor fours are my FAVORITE CHORDS OF ALL TIME and any song that has one is immediately better.
    I was so excited to see that you did a video on this that I sent it to all of my musician friends and tweeted about it because I harp on this ALL THE TIME 😅 Thanks Charles!

  • @JacquelineLanceTenor
    @JacquelineLanceTenor Рік тому

    I love modal mixture. It adds so much color.

  • @m_dep7085
    @m_dep7085 2 роки тому +3

    The intro to Muse's "Falling Away With You" also takes advantage of this chord. The chords are voiced similarly to "Blackbird", and the turnaround at the end uses the 4 => m4 => 1 and is yet another example of a profoundly sad song.

    • @metaltim
      @metaltim Рік тому +1

      Falling down by Muse also does A,D,Dm. Then in the chorus, it does F#m, then F (not in the scale of A major), then up to A, D, then B7, also not in the A major scale. Chorus ends on E to beautifully resolve back to A. Then you have unintended by Muse, which I think has a minor iv, though I don't really know what key it's in. It's E,Am,D,G,C,B7,E

    • @tagtra290
      @tagtra290 Рік тому

      @@metaltim it is in E! So yeah the second chord in the progression is the minor fourth

  • @iheartg4be
    @iheartg4be 2 роки тому +17

    THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IVE BEEN SAYING TO FRIENDS OF MINE, but they're not into music theory so they all just look at me confused and think im insane, but the minor 4 chord always sounds so beautiful after resolving to the major 1 chord, love ur vids charles

  • @BharatLagali
    @BharatLagali 2 роки тому +12

    "One day I'll fly away" from Moulin Rouge comes to mind. Gives me the goose bumps everytime I hear her sing the "...fly away" bit.

    • @gordonwright5946
      @gordonwright5946 2 роки тому +2

      OMG! Thank you for this, and now I must go and hear that whole soundtrack again.

    • @rrundquist
      @rrundquist 6 місяців тому

      YES!

  • @andrewcockburn3227
    @andrewcockburn3227 9 місяців тому

    The enthusiasm of your musical explanations is infectious. Who knew theory could be so enjoyable?!

  • @ablubird1451
    @ablubird1451 Рік тому +2

    About a minute into this video I had the realization that one of my favorite original pieces of music from when I was younger and has stuck with me for years is largely based on alternating between the I and iv chord. I've ALWAYS been obsessed with using the IV iv I ending since, weirdly enough, I learned to play the Mario Bros main theme that has an ending that fits those chords. I wanted to know why I liked it so much so I broke it down and started applying it almost ANY time I wanted to end a song. It's just so much more compelling to me, the 5th feels almost too triumphant, whereas the bit of sadness in that minor 4 chord, especially just having come from the major 4 chord, feels so much more final. As if it's telling a story that maybe doesn't have the happiest ending, but a bittersweet and thoroughly satisfying one.

  • @romanmccutchen6061
    @romanmccutchen6061 2 роки тому +56

    I am sure you know this composer but I would be interested to hear your thoughts on Eric Whitacre and his use of dissonance. Especially in his song Lux Aurumque.

    • @anachr0nism104
      @anachr0nism104 2 роки тому +1

      ooh i sang that with my choir last semester

    • @romanmccutchen6061
      @romanmccutchen6061 2 роки тому +1

      @@anachr0nism104 it’s such a good song! I played the orchestral version in high school.

    • @moirbasso7051
      @moirbasso7051 2 роки тому +1

      Once you've done one Whitacre song, you done them all..... trite, predictable, cheap.

    • @blarghinatelazer9394
      @blarghinatelazer9394 2 роки тому

      @@moirbasso7051 Based.

  • @gwalla
    @gwalla 2 роки тому +19

    I've seen that IV-iv-I movement called the "plagal sigh", and I really like that because it kind of settles into the tonic. (I've also seen it called the "double plagal " or "minor plagal" but both of those also have other meanings).
    I've never heard of a name for that other common variation on the IV-I, the IV⁷-♯iv°⁷-I that shows up in the jazz blues and some older R&B, with its chromatic 4̂-♯4̂-5̂ rise. "Plagal climb" maybe?

  • @geosalatast5715
    @geosalatast5715 2 роки тому

    Brilliant explanation! The best teacher to teach you music harmony and chord progression!!!

  • @Downthebayou
    @Downthebayou 5 місяців тому

    I enjoyed your video. I have not thought about nice the harmonic major scale is in a long time. I even forgot about it until I saw your video. You're so right about how moving iv is in major, especially in the tenor range. I look forward to checking out more of your content! Thanks!!

  • @TheRealSnowCat
    @TheRealSnowCat 2 роки тому +12

    I love how you explain concepts in music theory in a way that's enthusiastic, easy to follow, and fun to watch!

  • @hyalinamusic18
    @hyalinamusic18 2 роки тому +23

    And this is part of why I love Mixolydian b6. The b6 in a major key has such a cool sound, especially when used as the third of the iv chord.

    • @christinaphillips715
      @christinaphillips715 Рік тому

      Interesting thought. Do you have any musical examples that use a mixolydian scale instead of a regular major with a raised 7th that uses this iv chord? Is mixolydian with lowered 6th an actual scale that’s described and uses in some music? Interesting color palate to imagine using! It would be less about subverting expectation but very colorful.

    • @VynxeVainglory
      @VynxeVainglory Рік тому

      @@christinaphillips715 It's the 5th mode of melodic minor

  • @jennakeith5711
    @jennakeith5711 2 роки тому +1

    I really love Lullaby ( Goodnight my Angel) by Billy Joel. The beautiful lyrics and chord progressions go so well together

  • @AmyAndThePup
    @AmyAndThePup Рік тому +2

    I always feel like I'm a bit lost for words when I listen to you play certain songs. In this video, I could listen to you play that Beatles song, and Leia's theme all day long. So, so good.
    And the theory is awesome! I am so here for this--every bit of it.
    It was fun playing around with what you were talking about. I often find myself doing that, since I'm blind, but a very spacial learner. I can pick up on chord progressions by ear, but it's better when someone's explaining things for me to go along with you.
    Awesome work as always, Charles :)
    *For any of you fascinated by how a blind person types: I use a wireless keyboard on my laptop. Don't freak out and think I couldn't possibly have written this--I get this reaction much, much more than you might think.

  • @NickMirambeau
    @NickMirambeau 2 роки тому +17

    here's a pretty minor four chord example: so I've been trying to figure out this one chord in Genshin Impact's Liyue theme for a while (without googling it), and after watching this video the other day, I jUst realized that the chord in the song is a minor four chord that resolves to a one, just like you mentioned here! so thank you for finally helping me realize that, and also giving me another tool in my arsenal to learn songs by ear 😌 (also, again, highly recommend that song and Genshin's music as a whole tbh)

  • @thevfxwizard7758
    @thevfxwizard7758 2 роки тому +6

    For anyone wanting to look into this chord deeper, I would recommend looking into extensions. iv min/maj7 creates a mysterious sound, iidim contains the minor iv but with a stronger resolution, and IImaj7 contains it as well with a more adventurous and “space like” resolution.

  • @m-yday
    @m-yday 9 місяців тому

    this video _really_ helped me understand functional harmony so much better. This idea of "creating" leading tones between chords by changing the chords slightly is going to change my writing.

  • @ChrisJClarke
    @ChrisJClarke 2 роки тому

    I also hear this when going from I to ii-7b5 (D to Em7b5)
    It's got the same characteristics as going from D to Gminor.
    Beautiful! thanks for the video

  • @deanbuttholio9657
    @deanbuttholio9657 2 роки тому +8

    "Sleepwalk" by Johnny and Santo uses the minor 4th chord really beautifully right before the part that everyone knows right at the beginning of the song. Only it walks down from Db to Bb to A to Ab. It's probably what makes the song so relaxing and melancholic because this resolution happens throughout the whole song

  • @Caliko
    @Caliko 2 роки тому +12

    Music theory has always been such a huge weak point of mine, I just can't seem to understand it. But you explained things in this video so that they made sense, even to me!! Thank you, I love your channel so much

  • @cm16533
    @cm16533 Рік тому

    Wow this was one of the clearest theory videos I've seen on UA-cam well done! Thanks for the lesson

  • @leonardochiodo5910
    @leonardochiodo5910 Рік тому

    Also works the other way around, minor key with major IV degree chord. It's perhaps more nostalgic, but similarly provokes a strong emotional response

  • @manudeboutte
    @manudeboutte 2 роки тому +7

    I absolutely love how they used it in Remember Me (song from the Disney movie Coco)

  • @WhatsHaap_
    @WhatsHaap_ 2 роки тому +7

    Oh my god!! Charles thank you so much!!! I’m a student and I make music in Korea, but my major has nothing to do with music… I’m all the way self taught, so when I discovered that the minor4 chord works it confused me so much!! I’ve always tried to figure it out but you nailed my 2-year long search in 15 minutes thankyou so much ur the best!!

  • @Bruce-yv9tm
    @Bruce-yv9tm Рік тому

    Thank you for the music in E major uses the minor 4 in A minor and it is truly magnificent. In my life is such a beautiful example as well, glad you included it.

  • @bradbowers4414
    @bradbowers4414 Рік тому

    I love the IV-I cadence, definitely my favorite. Adding the fifth note of the key under the IV chord makes for a super fun resolution. F/G-C for example.

  • @markthorson6656
    @markthorson6656 2 роки тому +5

    "All by Myself" (Eric Carmen, '75) is based on the second movement of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, which uses that chord progression throughout. In both pieces, there's an added 6th in the IV-minor.

  • @swanheart710
    @swanheart710 2 роки тому +10

    This channel always blows my mind. I studied classical piano and voice for more than 15 years, did a bunch of theory as part of it, even took the AP theory test in high school...but all I got out of all that was *what* the music was doing, not *why*. You do such a phenomenal job of not only explaining the nuts and bolts of the harmonies but also making sense of WHY the music moves the way it does - and moves us the way it does. Bravo.

  • @mccookies3664
    @mccookies3664 2 роки тому +1

    this resolution is put to really good use in windrag by jack stauber - the whole song is about guilt and moving on from tragedy, so the wistful, nostalgic sound gives it this subtle but powerful impact that just makes you feel the emotion really deeply.

  • @chrismorgan7494
    @chrismorgan7494 Рік тому

    This cadence is the perfect platform to practice the application of the harmonic major scale or the mixolydian -6 on.

  • @mr.nicolson2908
    @mr.nicolson2908 2 роки тому +5

    Far Away Boys by Flogging Molly is a really simple song but at the end of each verse and chorus there’s a IV-iv-I that really give the whole song a melancholy feel. One of my favorites.

  • @bcarr72
    @bcarr72 2 роки тому +6

    “Nobody Home” on Pink Floyd’s The Wall has always been one of my favorites…and fun to play. The iv wasn’t something I ever really knew or thought about, but so obvious after watching this video. Thanks for laying it so nicely!

  • @mrmagoo-778
    @mrmagoo-778 8 місяців тому

    Your passion is infectious

  • @garlandpoolfredpool
    @garlandpoolfredpool 2 роки тому +1

    Yes Charles...YES...I have a bit of an obsession with this altered form of the IV chord. I mean, I could just go on and on about it. And it's so refreshing to hear you share your feelings about it.

  • @DanShureMusic
    @DanShureMusic 2 роки тому +5

    Love the analysis! The reason I've always thought it's so magical is because, for a moment, it's almost like the 'minor iv' chord is actually the i minor chord, and the actual I major feels like the V chord in that minor key. In other words... F minor (minor 4) to C Major (Major 1) can also be F minor (minor 1 in the key of F minor) and C major (Major V in the key of F minor)... and it creates this wonderful, heart-wrenching tension, push and pull between those two worlds.

  • @EOVOS
    @EOVOS 2 роки тому +8

    So happy someone else fangirls over the iv chord like I do. 😂 Another chord I absolutely love hearing that is rarely used is the iii chord. For example, I absolutely LOVE hearing songs that surprise me after hearing IV-V-vi and then hit you with the iii before repeating the cycle again. Just iii-IV-V or ii-iii-IV-V is one of my favorite progressions. 🤩

  • @shylastar3653
    @shylastar3653 2 роки тому

    warmth and kindness from proffesor layton and the azran legacy is also a very powerful song that no one talks about. the heavy bit near the end is always amazing

  • @ash1rose
    @ash1rose Рік тому

    I definitely started tearing up at moments in this video when you played those phrases. I am hypersensitive to things like this, but it definitely hits me in the feels.