When I was growing up, the pop song was constructed using three chords in the verse, and adding in the minor chords for the chorus.

It worked pretty well - probably 100,000 hit songs or so were written using that model or a variation thereof.

Every musician in the world knows/knew what you meant when you said, "OK guys, this is a three-chord rocker in G".

Well, a few years ago I decided to learn some Katy Perry songs. They were all exactly the same, which is no crime.

But they were all based on FOUR chord progressions - usually something like G-Em-C-D. The choruses were the same chords.

Then I got into Taylor Swift and her best songs were the same structure. She'd vary the chorus, and start it with the minor chord, but it was usually the same chords as the verses.

There are plenty of YouTube videos where some guy plays 25 songs in 3 minutes, and they're all G-Em-C-D progression songs.

So it seems the four chord progression is the norm in pop now.

My question is, when did this happen? Who was the first to really get successful with this new progression?

Axis Of Awesome explained it a few years ago.

RodeoSchro said:

When I was growing up, the pop song was constructed using three chords in the verse, and adding in the minor chords for the chorus.

It worked pretty well - probably 100,000 hit songs or so were written using that model or a variation thereof.

Every musician in the world knows/knew what you meant when you said, "OK guys, this is a three-chord rocker in G".

Well, a few years ago I decided to learn some Katy Perry songs. They were all exactly the same, which is no crime.

But they were all based on FOUR chord progressions - usually something like G-Em-C-D. The choruses were the same chords.

Then I got into Taylor Swift and her best songs were the same structure. She'd vary the chorus, and start it with the minor chord, but it was usually the same chords as the verses.

There are plenty of YouTube videos where some guy plays 25 songs in 3 minutes, and they're all G-Em-C-D progression songs.

So it seems the four chord progression is the norm in pop now.

My question is, when did this happen? Who was the first to really get successful with this new progression?

The "three-chord rocker in G" is probably just a basic Blues progression (I-IV-V)

That four chord (I-VI-IV-V) progression has been around since the 50s.
They're commonly called "Ice Cream Changes" and tons of songs have been written based on them.


Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

There are tons of variations you could pull off with these

four chords. And because of these variations, there are

similarly tons of melodic inventions available as well.

Passing chords nestled in between others could serve to add

color to tunes; and ear training and theory would be able to

help songwriters compose middle eights and interesting bridges

as well.

The problem with pop music today is that it is largely devoid

of originality, personality and inventiveness: those involved

are more concerned with utilizing a blueprint for financial reasons

as opposed to musical innovation. There ain't nothing wrong

with this, but I would wager it goes a long way in explaining why

pop music seems to be static.

But for pop, the Beatles are still #1 in my book.

TonyVanDam said:

Axis Of Awesome explained it a few years ago.

theAudience said:

RodeoSchro said:

When I was growing up, the pop song was constructed using three chords in the verse, and adding in the minor chords for the chorus.

It worked pretty well - probably 100,000 hit songs or so were written using that model or a variation thereof.

Every musician in the world knows/knew what you meant when you said, "OK guys, this is a three-chord rocker in G".

Well, a few years ago I decided to learn some Katy Perry songs. They were all exactly the same, which is no crime.

But they were all based on FOUR chord progressions - usually something like G-Em-C-D. The choruses were the same chords.

Then I got into Taylor Swift and her best songs were the same structure. She'd vary the chorus, and start it with the minor chord, but it was usually the same chords as the verses.

There are plenty of YouTube videos where some guy plays 25 songs in 3 minutes, and they're all G-Em-C-D progression songs.

So it seems the four chord progression is the norm in pop now.

My question is, when did this happen? Who was the first to really get successful with this new progression?

The "three-chord rocker in G" is probably just a basic Blues progression (I-IV-V)

That four chord (I-VI-IV-V) progression has been around since the 50s.
They're commonly called "Ice Cream Changes" and tons of songs have been written based on them.


Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

I know. The doo-wop songs of the fifties were mostly all that progression.

I'm just interested in how that progression reappeared and now dominates pop songs.

Advice: switch 2 FUNK.

Graycap23 said:

Advice: switch 2 FUNK.

Good advice!

But don't forget about country music. That's where the best players are these days, and the best songwriters.

RodeoSchro said:

Graycap23 said:

Advice: switch 2 FUNK.

Good advice!

But don't forget about country music. That's where the best players are these days, and the best songwriters.

Lol....I would not listen 2 country if u paid me big money.

theAudience said:

RodeoSchro said:

When I was growing up, the pop song was constructed using three chords in the verse, and adding in the minor chords for the chorus.

It worked pretty well - probably 100,000 hit songs or so were written using that model or a variation thereof.

Every musician in the world knows/knew what you meant when you said, "OK guys, this is a three-chord rocker in G".

Well, a few years ago I decided to learn some Katy Perry songs. They were all exactly the same, which is no crime.

But they were all based on FOUR chord progressions - usually something like G-Em-C-D. The choruses were the same chords.

Then I got into Taylor Swift and her best songs were the same structure. She'd vary the chorus, and start it with the minor chord, but it was usually the same chords as the verses.

There are plenty of YouTube videos where some guy plays 25 songs in 3 minutes, and they're all G-Em-C-D progression songs.

So it seems the four chord progression is the norm in pop now.

My question is, when did this happen? Who was the first to really get successful with this new progression?

The "three-chord rocker in G" is probably just a basic Blues progression (I-IV-V)

That four chord (I-VI-IV-V) progression has been around since the 50s.
They're commonly called "Ice Cream Changes" and tons of songs have been written based on them.


Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

Thanks for the music history lesson t.A.

Graycap23 said:

RodeoSchro said:

Good advice!

But don't forget about country music. That's where the best players are these days, and the best songwriters.

Lol....I would not listen 2 country if u paid me big money.

For 100 million dollars you would!!!

TonyVanDam said:

Axis Of Awesome explained it a few years ago.

Thanks - that was very enlightening! Like a superhero, you swooped in and got to the point!

mjscarousal said:

Graycap23 said:

Lol....I would not listen 2 country if u paid me big money.

For 100 million dollars you would!!!

Don't think so.........

TonyVanDam said:

Thanks for the music history lesson t.A.

I learned the term on some cover band gigs years ago.
The leader would call out "ice cream changes in [fill in the key]".
He would then proceed to go through a medley of 5-10 tunes.
All very familiar songs.



Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Nobody said nothing about Johnny Cash's hits in the same chord..sometimes sounds as if it was the same guitar through all the years...