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Comment by CuriouslyC | Hacker News Reader

I think most musicians know that I-IV-V-I is the zero thought default for in key chord progression, it's so overused you don't need fancy analysis to figure it out.

For me, I'm more interested in the intervals and voicing pairs, because those tell you something deeper about the music that you don't get from the chord progression.

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I-IV-V-I, II-V-I and maybe I-VII-VI-V and you can consider yourself "advanced" ;)

There's bandleaders who have geared their entire performance so if you can pick this kind of thing up by ear, follow their timing, and put effort into making them sound better, you're more valuable than some alternatives having truly advanced formal musical training.

Especially with equal or better chops, lots of players like this can go into a studio and make recordable music, in one take, without actually rehearsing together in advance.

And play in any key, since it's just Roman numerals.

I have an almost irrational love for I-IV-VII-V. It's got a sort of happy, laid-back nostalgic vibe - sort of the best way I know to smuggle an extra major chord into a key. It can be approached in some fun different ways - can be thought of a "mixolydian" progression off the tonic, but it's also two I-IVs stuck together - almost a little mini-modulation if you wanna think of that way.

Sunrain[1] by Lotus is probably my favorite example (listen for the chords that come in under the main riff). But it's a staple in tons of rock music, and once you get it into your ears you'll hear it all over.

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAc-B5eDKmI

Jeeze this song is hard to listen to.. it almost feels like intentional syncopation on the guitar part but I can’t imagine they would have left it in intentionally after hearing how grating it is against the drum groove

Man. Different strokes, I guess. One of my favorite songs. That's ok though, really just meant to get the chord progression across.

Oh I love the melody and harmony, it’s the guitar rhythm that kills me. It’s to the point that it feels random and as a fellow musician I cringe to even say that about someone’s playing because I know how intentional music is, especially the kind meant to sound like it’s not

You mean the chord work that comes in behind the main melody? I can definitely hear what you mean, it does feel almost random at points.

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