The Secret To Beautiful Chord Progressions
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.ย. 2021
- We're analyzing how Coldplay breaks the rules when writing music and how their chord progressions tell a story.
▶MY COURSES◀
Beginner: learnpracticeplay.com
Intermediate: nextlevelplaying.com
Acoustic: acousticadventure.com
▶FOLLOW ME◀
Instagram: / pauldavidsguitar
▶TONE◀
Fender Telecaster - Source Audio Collider - Fender Deluxe
Miced with a beyerdynamic M160 and a Neumann TLM 102
Hi, my name is Paul Davids! I am a guitar player, teacher, producer, and overall music enthusiast from the Netherlands! I try to inspire people from all over the world with my videos, here on TH-cam.
If you want to know more about me, check out PaulDavidsGuitar.com or check out my guitar courses at: learnpracticeplay.com and nextlevelplaying.com, and acousticadventure.com
Thank you for watching!
Paul
Below is the gear and services I use to make these videos. They redirect to websites and provide me with a small kickback should purchase any of these things.
▶GEAR LIST◀
www.amazon.com/shop/pauldavids
▶SFX & Background music◀
share.epidemicsound.com/paulda...
▶MICS◀
Vocal mic - amzn.to/2BVNtbV
▶SOUND◀
Soundcard - amzn.to/2xk7pSM
DAW - amzn.to/2fhPZjz
▶CAMERAS◀
Camera 1 - amzn.to/2N4NyPX
Camera 2 - amzn.to/2DkDI4D
Camera 3 - amzn.to/2OyTy21
Lens 1 - amzn.to/2DF6ahR
Lens 2 - amzn.to/2EetpA5
Lens 3 - amzn.to/2FK5hqx - เพลง
Chris Martin and the gang watching this video as they work on the next album: Pause it right there!! Write that down!! Write that down!!
Hopefully my channel will grow like you sir Paul Davis . They are all awesome PVC
i heard this Chris martins voice
😆😆
LOL
“We do that?”
Paul- your editing and teaching skills are simply world-class. Thank you!
Agreed!
Ditto
Agreed!
agreed!
I was thinking the same thing. The sync of the guitar and example recordings is impeccable.
The fact that you've already created so many videos covering the chords numbers and STILL take a moment to briefly explain it is what makes you such a great resource. If you're looking for a good online course - get Pauls.
I’d love to see some Radiohead broken down this way. They have even more fun with it by borrowing chords. Muse does too to some degree.
I think Rick Beato does it a bit as part of his "What makes This Song Great" series. But yeh I'd love Paul to do some too.
Here is a breakdown of Radiohead’s version of a James Bond theme: th-cam.com/video/tiesXqT1P3g/w-d-xo.html
@@raymonddickenson3639 Thanks Raymond- oh yes I saw this too. I'd just love to hear Paul do some...I love his gentle style,
Yes please do radiohead
Look up David Bennett, he mentions Radiohead at least once in every video.
"It's the diatonics, the chords made of all the notes in the scale." That sentence just unlocked something in my brain for some reason. I'm starting to understand for the first time how keys, scales, and chords are related to one another. I spent an hour comparing the Amaj scale to the chords you had on screen. It's all staring to make sense now. Don't ask my why it was that sentence and this video to finally make it click but... thank you.
Dude, because you said that, I wrote down all the notes in order and circled the notes in g maj. then wrote the notes of each chord based on the circled notes... bananas how the notes in the scales form a pattern with the notes in the chord. Blew my mind and I have your comment to thank. So thanks
I think I may have had the same epiphany
I remember when I had that realization. Well done on getting to this point in your guitar journey!!! The sky is the limit from here! If you want a "next step" start working on understanding modes and modal interchange. Super school stuff. Best of luck my friend
@@bee5616 @camps621 I remember as well. I also remember when finally "getting" altered harmony - seeing #5b9, #5#9 was driving me crazy - but if you look at them, they are again, just tense notes looking for resolution. A home note is just a 1/2 step away! It took me a long time to get it - my suggestion to someone new is to really listen to notes 'against' a chord. What does the 1 sound like, the 5, the 6, and so on. I love this stuff!
Funny because I had that "epiphany" just like a couple weeks ago as I started exploring piano/keyboard more in depth : visually it appears move obvious than all the chords you have in one scale are always made from the notes that compose that same scale.
Paul's voice is so soothing and his video are so beautifully shot and edited.
Because of his voice, Paul is the "Bob Ross" of guitar teaching... :)
You're a great presence on the internet, Paul Davids. A great teacher, a great player, and your tone is just so lush and lovely. Thank you.
im glad someone feels the same way i feel
You're not only teaching us how to play music
You're conveying the feeling of the scale and making us attached to it so beautifully
Idc what anyone says, Johnny Buckland and Chris Marin are underrated guitarists…
Great vid Paul!
Chris Martin uses a lot of uncommon and interesting voicings that make simple chord progressions sound much more interesting
Facts and always appropriate for the song.
Great writers of music and words……
Yep. My personal favorite is “we never change”. Love that song.
Absolutely agree!
After hearing Chris Martin talk about his song writing process, dude is gifted, has a basic understanding of theory but really doesn't shy away from just going with what sounds good without knowing how it's technically supposed to make sense. As is the case with many rock/pop musicians of course.
Hey can you link the video you saw pretty please?!
@@lumossir5012 Aaah I don't think I can share links on TH-cam (the messages don't appear), but I'm thinking of one where he talks about how he came up with Yellow.
He's a very capable musician, lots of his piano and guitar playing uses inversions and chord structures that more overtly virtuoso players might use also.
@@arn999 you can? th-cam.com/video/CjLqcsehYZI/w-d-xo.html just like this
@@fatkitty4207 I can see that link....I've link stuff before and it's just randomly disappeared. So TH-cam is kind of weird about it....That one is working for now.
Can't understand why Paul's guitar sound is ALWAYS the best I can imagine for what he's doing... Bravo Paul!
I don't play any instrument, but your lessons help me better hear and appreciate the richness and talent put into these songs. I now hear them in a new way. That's why I subscribed. Thanks for that.
Love how Paul makes these concepts accessible to anyone, simple plain words of English to introduce the Lydian mode… Almost without saying it! Top notch teaching here sir
Paul, with overwhelming guitar content on youtube, I find it very interesting and refreshing when you do song/theory analysis like this one. I can totally relate to your video as I am constantly analyzing a song in this same matter in my head and find it very hard to shut my brain and just enjoy the music. The IV chord is my favorite chord, the transition to the I chord or vice versa is my favorite progression, think Joe Satriani-made of tears, and whenever I got the chance, I always tried to end a song on the IV chord live, it kept people waiting…
I've been playing and avidly trying to learn guitar for thirty years, but every time I take the trouble to watch one of your little lessons, I learn something invaluable. Thank you, sir. What a kind thing to do! Regards.
I really love how you peppered in the isolated vocal tracks to your chords to bring context. Not easy I’m sure, but so brilliant!
This is one of the best videos I have seen to date that explains Western music theory in relation to chords, the Nashville number system, and Coldplay’s signature move to start on the IV chord. Thank you so much for making this!
I was having a terribly bad day today, but YT recommended this video, and as always, it made me feel better, mate, thanks! Your lessons are the best!
It's something I've noticed over the years, how the Coldplay style of chord arrangements, giving that 'celebratory' kind of sound has influenced a lot of music that we use in corporate videos production for TV adverts etc. It's brightened things up considerably from the old fashion corporate video music of 15-20 years ago. Great video Paul. many thanks
very interesting starting with the IV chord. also, amazing teaching with authentic passion. always appreciate your videos
This small dive into song writing is fantastic. There’s so much guitar playing I’m thinking about, but I’m still shying away from actually writing songs. This helps to spur me on. Thanks.
I've been with a guitar teacher years ago that helped me progress from a complete n00b to a halfway decent guitar player (at least I think '^^). But you my man, are going to be my future teacher of choice. Love your way of explaining things so much! I'm going to sign up to that Next Level Playing course a 100%... this is going to be my way to spend the winter months :)
Paul, you are a teacher, a scholar, a gentleman with a nuanced tonality in your voice and playing. Thank you for boosting the quality on YT so much and letting us all participate, so generously.
You have a great knack of tying together storytelling and teaching all in one. Truly extraordinary skill.
For someone who always just enjoyed Coldplay's music without being curious about why is it so good... this video is so interesting and, oh... I think my brain is leaking >
Coldplay and Paul Davis? Clicking right away
I just love that you can learn at so many different levels when watching Paul's videos. You can learn about music theory, or just take away an insight into how bands and writers approach their songwriting.....or why certain songs convey a certain feeling! And of course, how to play and enjoy guitar! Love it all and long may Paul continue producing such great and interesting content!
Been watching your videos for a while now, and man. You’re just awesome, the production value, your knowledge, your vibe. Sick. I’m not necessarily a mainstream music die hard, but I can admit, “don’t panic” is a pretty tubular song. Regardless, your videos are so enjoyable. Thank you Paul.
My goddd, my fav guitarist talks about my fav band i loveeee it
Ikr same I got so hyped seeing the thumbnail
Mannnn, and because of this, i realized alot of people love Coldplay which makes me sooo happy :3
if coldplay is your favorite band, you’re missing out on good music
@@nick3718 i get that not everyone likes their music, i of course listen to and like a lot of other music. However, this band gives me the vibe, the feeling i just love their solo lines and their lyrics. I guess if it's about the favour, opinion and thinking about songs or style we sould only agree to disagree, yes? Now, tell me your fav band and i will still appreceate them, i don't hate anything about music ever ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽
Paul, I really appreciate your instructional videos - not just for the outstanding content, but also for your kind, friendly demeanor. We need more of that in our world! I’m a guitarist, a retired music educator, and a happy subscriber to your channel!
the way Chris writes so beautiful songs, and the same way Paul describes it. This is beautiful as well. Thank you Paul for cheers up my day.
Brilliant explanation of how different harmonies feel like, including the short addition that a minor tonic can be just as much the tonic of a chord progression as the major tonic (something that a lot of people stuck in classical music theory seem to refuse to acknowledge), and then you briefly explain how it all ties in with the vibe that Coldplay’s music communicates. Awesome work!
Paul, as always, you're just hitting the key points. Thank's a lot!
You’re a genius Paul. I don’t have a lot of spare time these days but I watch your videos as much as I can. Thanks for sharing your talent.
I've been trying to get into guitar for a long time and every time I lose motivation to practice due to other things in life, I always come back to your channel and I'm reminded again of the beauty of this instrument. Thank you Paul!
This was terrific! Really enjoyed hearing your explanation and breakdown of the progressions.
You are a great teacher/educator, Paul. I know all this theory already but you have a great skill in demonstrating how it applies to actual music.
Love the presentation of this musical concept… especially with the fade outs (which usually I’d see as taking the easy way out to end a song), really does make their songs sound like your jumping on a moving train and then jumping off, as opposed to gingerly walking on and off one that is parked at its station… very cool man 👍🏼👍🏼
Probably the best guitar/music "teacher" on youtube (I would say it because you seem so humble whereas you"re delivering such proper and priceless content and knowledge!) thanks !!
Watching Paul's videos are what I'd imagine meditation or therapy to feel like. Very calm and soothing. The theory or content often get away from me but I can't stop coming back for the next one.
Decoding Coldplay music, cool stuff - now I know why I’m so fascinated by it. Great piece of youtube video …
Truly a beautifully planned and delivered exercise in music theory, showing exactly why it matters and working from music instead of towards it. The question you asked yourself at the end, Paul, as to whether CM consciously always starts on the IV, demonstrates a real and delicate respect for creativity and an awareness that style is the expression of sensibility. Can’t imagine it being done better. Thank you!
This is just incredibly high quality, informative, entertaining content. There’s so little content out there like this, it’s really refreshing. Huge fan - thank you!
Paul, your gift of breaking music down and in a completely enjoyable way is awesome. Thanks!
I hadn't seen an analysis on Coldplay guitars yet, this is super interesting. Their guitars can be a little shy, their chords disonant and weird, but they always sound beautiful and interesting to me. I bought a Martin D-15M (leftie) because I wanted that Coldplay sound, well, their old sound. It's great when bands evolve, the problem is that the post 'X & Y' era sounds more like a bad sequel to me. I hope they come back to what they were before Viva La Vida, just for an album. It's funny how people associate Coldplay with happiness. For me, they are the introverted, melancholic bunch of fellows from 'Sparks', 'The Scientist' or 'See you soon'. Happy music, everyone is doing it, but I don't see anyone capable of pulling out a 'Parachutes' or a 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' nowadays. Anyway, awesome analysis man, I'd love to see something related to Coldplay's two first albums!
Cheers!
10000000% could not agree more. I was obsessed with pre-Viva La Vida Coldplay. I stopped listening after that album, unfortunately. Fingers crossed.
The beauty of Coldplay is they never stick to one theme or sound. Thank GOD for that. Otherwise we’d have Radiohead 2.0… AKA an absolute snooze fest lol
@@IsisRoseStudio I disagree with you about radiohead, but I like the word snooze fest lol
@@magicpeterpalmer lol welp🤷🏼♀️
Prospekt's March is a gem of an EP, Glass of Water, Rainy Days, Prospekt's March.
This was such a well made video. It’s as creative and artistic as the music you discuss.
I’ve been off the internet for a while, but coming back to some favorites, and you are still producing superb content. You’re a master.
I loved how you said Chris is "drawn" to it, the pattern isn't intentional only more noticeable with the amount of recordings he has! I gotta see me a Coldplay show one of these days...
This is my first ever comment on a YT video, so here goes.. Can’t agree more with your analysis. Their chord progressions are second to none, and often break outside of the diatonic system. The use of pitch (both melodic and harmonic) in their work is just one of the stimulants their music gives you.
A couple for rhythmic changes if anyone’s interested:
Death and All His Friends - 7/4 time sig at 2:18
Charlie Brown - second bar of the 8 bar intro/verse chord progression is 2/4
Coloratura - 5/4 at 6:03 (4/4 and 3/4 at other times in the piece)
Coloratura is an absolute pallet of tones, kind of like using an entire colour wheel.
Each concept of music is thoroughly represented in their work at times (pitch, duration, dynamics and expressive techniques, structure, texture, tone colour and technology).
I love that their last single was a 10 minute masterpiece that took me multiple listens to understand. I also think this is a boss move for one of the most popular bands in the world - showing they are still hungry for creativity and pushing beyond the point of what sells in exchange for brilliance.
Fully agree with some of the other comments about Buckland - plays what matters, when it matters and like he means it.
When I saw Coldplay in Sydney years ago, they were humbly honoured to have special guest Shane Warne (arguably Australia’s greatest ever bowler cricketer) up on stage with them - still the most random thing that makes me feel like they fit right in at Christmas with my relatives.
The cool thing about this is that Chris doesn't read music or know a lot about music theory. He legitimately has a natural gift/talent for writing music. His chord structures on the piano and guitar are very unique, as are his tunings. Fantastic video Paul!
the music industry should be as innocent as your statement
hey coldplaykb, can u make a tutorial for til kingdom come !
@@amirhaqimw I can definitely add it to the list to attempt at some point :)
Paul….ever since I discovered your channel, I not only subscribed, but the amazing part is every video of yours I watch puts a smile on my face. I’m not a very accomplished guitar player, but I enjoy the instrument nonetheless. Your videos are “must watch” for any aspiring musician, and the way you tell a story is captivating. Thank You 🙏
You are amazing!
Honestly the quality of your videos is just incredible. Don't know what to say more. It's just incredible
Love the accent love the expressions love the content love that I’ve been listening to Coldplay for years and never realised this
Looking forward to learning more things that I didn’t know
Many thanks for lesson
Love hearing you break down the theory and illuminate the magic behind Chris Martin's song writing. So eloquently described! Well done Sir.
LOVE your theory and breakdown of music like this. Thank you!
Sir, just like Coldplay, you’re absolutely brilliant.
Fascinating lesson Paul. I saw him interviewed about his song writing process. It was highly intuitive and based on note/chord combinations he just liked very similar to Dave Grohl from foo fighters. Keep up the good work Paul luv the lessons!
I’ve never understood the Nashville System until today. I’ve looked at charts before but when your chord charts popped up on the screen, it just made sense. I paused the video and was looking at the chords under each number and it finally clicked.
I don’t know why it didn’t click before, but I’m appreciative of you putting out this video! Thank you.
Numbers are one of the most useful concepts to understand in music in my opinion! It lets you see the chords as their function, and how they relate to the key instead of what the actual chords are. Also when you get comfortable thinking like this it makes key changes much easier! If you know that a progression is 4 5 6, then when you change keys it is still a 4 5 6!
Such a beautiful tone / presence / reverb package with that Telly Paul. So good.
Teaching is one of the hardest jobs ever and you are amazing at it. Thank You.
Great lesson. Appreciate how you taught Music Theory in a way that was fun, enjoyable, and relevant to a Super Group.
He's talking about Coldplay. A super group is an artificial construct made of already established players of quality. They're not always good either. I think you mean a 'super group'.
Thanks for another great video! And I completely agree with what you've said here. While I'm not a fan of everything Coldplay do, there are quite a few of their tunes I do love. And the progressions are always quite exquisite and tend to be carefully rendered, in just the right inversion, instrumentation, etc. The Lydian pull is certainly very strong in Chris Martin's writing; as you say, it's the brightest mode, and his music is shot through with an exuberance that Lydian is taylor-made for. Cheers!
Starting on the 4 chord is like starting the song soaring... With lots of movement.. I just love it
Thanks Paul. I really appreciated this video. As a musician for over fifteen years I am wanting to dive deeper into the theory and analysis of some of my favorite songs and artists. I know the basics of music theory but have not tied it all together like this. This was exactly what I was looking for! I will be checking out more of your videos.
Paul Davids doing the impossible and actually making me appreciate a Chainsmokers song
Fantastic breakdown of one of the great bands of our current age. Keep up the good work, Paul!
Speaking of secrets to beautiful formulas: You, my friend, have perfected the guitarformation platform. It’s very relaxing and professionally edited to aesthetic perfection. I feel that non-musicians would get wrapped up in your content. I’m an intermediate player but I always want to learn from you. Great job! Keep it up.
Your joy is contagious ❤️ Thank you 🙂
Let's not forget that Chris Martin wrote some songs in a couple of minutes. Truly magnificent 👏
As someone who’s being playing in the Nashville Number System for a while, this video was very helpful and insightful. Those resolutions 4-1 are incredibly useful and happens all the time in current modern worship music.
My music teacher told me that IV-I is called the amen cadence...
Holy shit, think you may just have helped solve why Chris uses it so much. He was brought up in a very religious setting at a young age & struggled with it later on, he's spoken about it before. Guess that must have rubbed off on him
Always learn something from your videos and I greatly enjoy the..
Thanks!
Another banging video with loads of usable tidbits.. thank you 🙏🏻
As a huge Coldplay fan, love this type of content. Helps me understand why I enjoy their music so much and why it sounds different but similar at the same time. Beautiful.
nice one Paul, thank you, I have so many mixed feelings about Coldplay but strangely am never disappointed buy their actual musical talent and writing..
Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this insight.
One of the greats on the platform. Thanks Paul. Beautifully done.
One good way to tell the key (for simple songs) is to look at the major chords. Two major chords will be one letter name apart. The other one is the major key. Example: G major has G, C, D major. C&D are a letter name apart, so the other one, G is the 1 chord which is the key.
great tip !
Brilliant!
That's a good tip. I like to omit the 3rd a lot to keep the key ambiguous, sometimes you don't want a distinct tonality major or minor.
How did you get 4 views (or 5 including me) in 4 seconds?!!! Amazing skills, Paul!!
Well explained and well shown Paul.
Thanks for sharing your guitar knowledge! Everything helps
U2’s Every Breaking Wave also starts on the IV and repeats for the entire song - the sequence is IV- vi - I - V in E. So, A - C#m - E - B. Same feeling of endless tension you describe in the Coldplay songs.
My Favourite band.
Brilliant, I could listen to you talk music all day!!! Love it!
Everything about your videos is uplifting. Thank you Paul
It’s one of the band, that famous all around the world, but still write Pink Floish style conceptual albums (Everyday life, Viva la Vida).
But at another hand, they simply collaborate with today’s stars with super modern typical pop sound, and Chris like: I don’t give a shit, I wrote everything I want.
Love this guys, and love your channel, keep creating! Thanks a lot!
Conversely, Trent Reznor writes music in essentially the same way. The method is modal but instead of the happy modes, he uses the sad modes. And leaves the listener feeling uneasy and unresolved. I learned that from another TH-cam channel. Shout out to Ixi music!
Big up to ixi! She really dives deep
Great analysis, thank you Paul!
Amazing! Thank you so much! You have opened my eyes!
Paul is an amazing teacher. His visuals support the verbal content delivery at the right moment in which everything seems to make sense, when hearing for the first time👍🤗🎼🎵🎶🎸
Hey Paul! Any chance we could get a full tutorial on Every Teardrop is a Waterfall? 😀 Similar to what you did with Up and Up?
Absolutely brilliant. The voicing and progressions are critical here. I think the melody the bass brings in so quietly, as well as the strumming pattern add to the songwriting brilliance. One of the most interesting aspects is how our familiarity with a song can affect how it feels to learn about it. I'm not a big Coldplay fan, but I hear it enough that these are familiar and almost friendly voicings. Thanks @PaulDavids
Paul, you are the man! Your videos are so fun an informative. I appreciate all the effort you've put into making these! My favorite youtube guitar teacher by far.
coldplay's musicianship is underrated
I heard there was
a secret chord,
that Chris Martin played,
and it pleased the world...
Thanks for your video. I find them fascinating, and love your positive vibe.
Great video and explained so perfect ! Thank you for that
I have been enjoying Coldplay for more than a decade, and I do play guitar and know a lot about musical theory. Despite all that, I've never realized this pattern on their songs. It surely explains the uplifiting, hopeful and dreamy mood of most of these songs. Nicely done, my friend, great analysis!
Chris from Cold Play said in an interview once that he can't read music. I think, like me, he makes music from emotion, so you don't need to follow the rules. The song makes it's own rules
Absolutely loved how you explained this the simplicity yet detail and examples were perfect thank you , really enjoyed it
Dude! That was brilliant! Thanks so much for explaining why I am drawn to coldplay songs so much and why they sound interesting to me (and a lot of folks). I really learn a lot from your videos - thanks!