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Year 8 · Music · Chords and genres · Lesson 4

Chord progressions and composing a song

Chord progressions and composing: chords in the key of C with Roman numerals, the I-V-vi-IV pop progression, mood from chord order, song structure and hooks, with audio examples.

Whiteboard video lesson: Chord progressions and composing a song

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Name the chords in the key of C
  • Play the I-V-vi-IV progression
  • Describe song structure and hooks
  • Plan and compose a short song

The method

  1. Key + 4-chord loop.
  2. Hook.
  3. Structure.
  4. Lyrics, perform, refine.

Key words: chord progression, I-V-vi-IV, Roman numerals, song structure, verse, chorus, hook, compose.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

What is a chord progression?

  1. Step 1: Order

Answer: a series of chords played one after another

Question 2

Write the pop progression in numerals.

  1. Step 1: 1, 5, 6, 4

Answer: I - V - vi - IV

Question 3

Write the pop progression in C.

  1. Step 1: C, G...

Answer: C - G - Am - F