Ethan Teaches You Music Podcast Chords Around the Circle of Fifths - Part Two
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May 24, 2025 Dive into the intriguing world of chord progressions as the host explores innovative movements through the circle of fifths. Discover how rock and pop classics, like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, challenge traditional music theory. Learn about atypical clockwise transitions that breathe new life into familiar songs. Plus, get insights on plagal cadences and notable covers, including the Talking Heads' take on 'Take Me To The River'. This lively discussion invites music enthusiasts to rethink their understanding of chord use in popular music.
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Circle Of Fifths Is A Spiral
- Ethan Hein reminds listeners that the circle of fifths closes awkwardly on enharmonic notes.
- He calls the true structure an infinite spiral, emphasizing continuous pitch space.
Plagal (Amen) Cadence Defined
- Ethan Hein defines the plagal cadence as clockwise root movement resolving 4→1.
- He calls it the 'Amen' cadence and says rock uses it often.
Rock's Harmonic Backbone Is 4→1
- Ethan Hein cites a study finding 4→1 occurs more than 5→1 in the Rolling Stone Top 500.
- He contrasts this with classical preference for 5→1 as tonal foundation.