Bland Chord Progressions? Try The NEAPOLITAN Chord

If you play a major triad and a minor triad to most people, and you ask them which of the two is more 'tense' and less 'happy', then the overwhelming majority will tell you that minor triads are more tense.

So it stands to reason that if you want to create more tension in your chord progressions, you should use more minor triads and less major triads.

This is a clear, reasonable, even obvious deduction... and it's wrong.

Why?

Because it does not take into account that the quality (major or minor) of the chords is not the only factor that determines tension.

Another important factor for instance is how the chords in the progression relate to the tonic chord in the key.

In this video we are going to see how changing two triads from minor to major (counterintuitively) can substantially increase the tension in a chord progression - and how you can do it too in your music

In the process we'll also learn about the Neapolitan chord - this is a 'secret weapon' for songwriter, and it is worth watching the video if only to learn about it ;)

If you like this video, share, like, comment & don't forget to subscribe for more content!

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[juanmoralesvideo]

«If you like this video». 'If'? Are you kidding? Man, your explanations are great!

[ricardofranciszayas]

Maestro, You are a brilliant teacher. I’m a 71 year old semi-retired keyboard player. The need for understanding the Neapolitan chord was never crucial for a blue collar musician like me. So out of curiosity I thought I would research it. I went to different YouTube videos explaining the Neapolitan chord and came away feeling more stupid at the end of the videos.
But your video, good Sir, explained so concisely and in terms understandable to a mere mortal like myself.
Bravissimo, Maestro.
Your channel is wonderful.

[shaolinmatadordeporco]

The best part of your videos is that not only you explain how stuff works, but also explains the reason for it to work the way it does, just like in books, but you do it in a much easier way to understand

[johnprice]

Wow, I was playing Chopin’s Nocturne op 9 no 1 and he does this A LOT

[steveanderson]

This is quite simply the best and most easily understood bit of music theory I have ever been shown. Normally I struggle to follow music theory, but this poured into my brain like a cool beer.
Most grateful, I am off right now to experiment with the accordo Napolitano :)

[lucagambirasio]

I read tons of harmony books, but you've done the easiest explanations here. Cheers!

[imaginableAudio]

Best video ever for this simple to understand. I wish I had a teacher like you on my phone I could call in theory emergencies 😂

[dsracoon]

I love how your explanations are simple and they make sense. Most music theory teachers/ytbers don't go into the detail you go or just handwave it. Or when they do try to go into detail they just go off on crazy tangents. Auguri!

[danielrennie]

Doing this is Am sounds very much like the Hans Zimmer score from the "Dark Phoenix" movie. I mistook it as being written in A Phrygian Dominant, but now I realize that it's just in A minor using an N6 chord. Highly recommend you listen to the score, specifically the piece called "Gap" within the score. Thanks for a fantastic video and content. Love this channel

[lindsayfraser]

This Video has finally fully explained a type of progression I have used for years in various songs but still struggled t understand what I was harmonically doing with my limited theory knowledge. Thank you, I have been enlightened as to why it works.

[Nm]

Just noticed there's a chromatic rise (I don't know how it's called in english... "chromatic ascension"? anyway...) going from A to C in the Am progression.
There's A, Bb, B and C.
It's pretty cool.

[SamuelPeckman]

I play the piano not the guitar. I found this to be a very clear explanation of the near Politan chord. Thank you.

[kibavlood]

Dude i really love the Chord videos man, you could even make a series out of it. I love Chords and love discovering new, your videos is perfect so is your channel. Stay safe.

[aakash]

Your channel is a invaluable music theory resource. Thanks for your hard work.

[jaybefaulky]

this was good it reminds me of the age old trick of 'when in doubt lead it out' where you 'fix' the chord progression by always maintaining a semi tone lead in for the next chord..this is best when it's part of the melody as well like a 'pick up note'...play with the lead note being ascending or descending...you can 'fix' otherwise awkward sounding progressions by a strategic sharp and flat here and there, using this way of thinking brings light to why there are many sharps and flats in many classical music melody lines.. ;)

[luckylicks]

I'm just loving these videos, and I hope this will reach a million before the end of this year. Stuff like this should be rewarded bigtime.

[ruanof]

I am a piano player, you explain theory so simple ! you are a great teacher. Thank you.

[FullMetalDMZ]

Great video, as always! The fact that you tackle the “weak” notes is a very eye opening concept, at least for me. It explains why some chord movements feel bland and not very interesting!

[alanwebbguitar]

Excellent explanation of the Neapolitan and its use!

[Kyrelel]

As well as the enclosure around A, there is the sequence A - Bb - B - C