Songs that use the Augmented climb chord progression

The augmented climb chord progression, which is the progression from "Last Night On Earth" by Green Day, starts on the tonic chord and then the top voice of the chord climbs up by semitones until we reach the fourth chord of the key.

And, an extra special thanks goes to Peter Keller, Douglas Lind, Vidad Flowers, Ivan Pang, Waylon Fairbanks, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇

0:00 "Last Night On Earth" by Green Day
1:15 Other examples
2:36 Minor 4 chord
3:40 Double augmented climb
5:19 For Once In My Life
6:05 why does this progression work?
8:50 Piano outro

[bevo]

The chord-progression videos are outstanding.

[linkfiedproductions]

The minor 4th just makes everything better. It’s a more bittersweet resolution

[aaryanshsinghal]

I think green day has used this progression in the most beautiful way. It's the perfect balance and the minor chord just layers it beautifully.

[HenningUhle]

When I heard the example of Green Day, I suddenly thought of "Losing my Mind " from the musical "Follies", been made famous to the radio by Liza Minelli & The Pet Shop Boys.

[BruceEEvans]

"It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To, " recorded by Lelie Gore. The chorus chord progression is
I, I+, IV, iv. The top note climbs to the 6th but becomes part of the IV chord when it gets there, then comes back down to IV minor,

[piersaffleck]

"Nowadays" from Chicago and the ending of "Mornings" by Portugal. The Man!

[sinatra]

Life On Mars was the first example that popped into my head! It's also worth mentioning the song that inspired Life On Mars - Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' - which itself borrowed the tune from a French song called Comme d'habitude.

[BGPhilbin]

First song that came to mind for me was "There's a Kind of Hush" by the New Vaudeville Band (1968). Also recorded by Herman's Hermits (Peter Noone, lead singer).

[Paint]

Maybe This Time from Cabaret was the first one that came to my mind. Also love the nod to Ben Folds Five, excellent!!

[XiALT]

that augmented chord progression sounds like heaven to me...

[HaskeTCE]

I know this chord progression best from the overworld theme of Super Mario Land "Birabuto Kingdom". Very nostalgic sound

[gloop]

As soon as you explained it at the beginning of the video I knew isolation had to be here. Such a beautiful and underrated song by Lennon.

[ljtinney]

I'd love to see a video on the augmented 6th chords... Italian, German, & French augmented 6th chords. I think you do an excellent job of presenting digestible information & it would be rad to see you cover this topic.

[UkuleleAversion]

5:13 Bro, I can’t believe never realised the prechorus was THIS simple. It suddenly all makes sense.

[benoitrenaud]

An interesting aspect of Something is that the intro climbs up the same chromatic line A, Bb, B, C, before the verse climbs it back down. Brilliant!

[elliotr]

Im so glad Last Night On Earth is getting recognition. It's such a beautiful song. So underrated

[stevedowns]

Steal Away by Robbie Dupree uses this progression twice. Intro/verse in off of the 1 chord A then in the bridge off the 4 chird D. Love the videos!

[tzoreehandler]

Coldplay's Coloratura also uses this progression, exactly the same as used in Last Night on Earth (in the key of D: D D+ D6 D7 G Gm), but the interesting thing is that right after it resolves back to the tonic chord of D, it repeats the progression, going to D+ after only one bar of D, giving us an irregular phrase pattern.

[teacherofteachers]

It is nuts that these lessons are free! Of such value to an older lifelong music hobbyist. I wouldn't mind seeing a whole presentation on Scott Walker (or Jacques Brel, for that matter), if relevant...

[joedhiehr]

Pink Floyd's "The Gunner's Dream" also uses this chord progression. Water perfectly draws the sadness, pain and melancoly of the human life. This song gives me chills.