When Australian comedic Band Axis of Awesome created a YouTube hit in 2011 with their song, “Four Chords,” many were amazed to realize just how many songs used the same chord progression. If you haven’t heard the song in it’s entirety, I encourage you to take a listen. 

LINK TO Axis of Awesome’s “4 Chords”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ

In this episode, we’ll talk about why it’s possible to sing a number of different songs using the same four chords, why these four chords sound so good to our ears, and hopefully when this episode is over, you will continue to listen to podcasts instead of the radio, since you already know what most of the songs sound like.

I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind the Four Chords.

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Media:

Music for Makers

Pachelbel’s Canon

Axis of Awesome - 4 Chords

Four Chord Progression and Sensitive Female Chord Progression

Sources:

http://www.easyeartraining.com/learn/four-chords-and-the-truth/#

http://wmbriggs.com/post/2641/

http://web.archive.org/web/20100113080032/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/12/31/striking_a_chord/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/01/14/country-music-mash-up-luke-bryan-blake-shelton-florida-georgia-line/21751561/

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThreeChordsAndTheTruth

http://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/why-do-songs-get-stuck-in-our-heads/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/9950143/Get-that-tune-out-of-your-head-scientists-find-how-to-get-rid-of-earworms.html

http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/12/31/striking_a_chord/

http://www.tdpri.com/threads/thought-of-the-day-on-chord-progressions.487939/