Songs that use the Minor 4 chord

📌 2:41 TYPO! the F#m chord should be labelled as “ii”, not “vi” 😅 thanks to the commenter who pointed it out!

The minor version of the 4 chord in the major key really can stir up some emotions. It's almost like a classic songwriting trick to pull at those heartstrings... resolve via the minor 4!

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

0:00 Introduction
1:09 Bohemian Rhapsody
1:35 Minor plagal cadence
3:00 IV - iv - I
4:40 Modal Interchange
5:38 IV - iv - vi
6:18 Mixolydian b6
6:58 Why does it sound so good?
8:53 TUNECORE
9:56 Piano outro

[DavidBennettPiano]

📌 2:41 TYPO! the F#m chord should be labelled as “ii”, not “vi” 😅

[veezhang]

Probably just me, but I always feel that ivm-I is like the second most natural resolution at the end just after V-I.

[puphcp]

The minor iv always tugs at my heartstrings. Thanks for showing off some songs that use it!

[hellomynameisjoenl]

Life on Mars? by David Bowie is absolutely FULL of min. plagal cadences, and used them really well, too.

[royalex]

The chorus of “Beetlebum” by Blur uses the iv chord.

Also, the chorus of “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars concludes with IV-iv-I

[dmajestic]

Jeff Lynne loves the minor IV chord. The clever use in ‘Livin Thing’ where the Fm follows the Ab is just genius.

Other ELO songs that use the minor IV:
Turn to Stone
Tightrope
Mission
Shangri La
Midnight Blue
Confusion
Twilight
State of Mind
When I was a boy
Moment in Paradise
The Fall
Xanadu
Don’t Walk Away
All over the world
Waterfall
Strange Magic
One summer dream

[danmayberry]

A lifelong ear-player, this channel has penetrated my phobic skull with well-demonstrated theory. Each episode so well constructed and presented.

[acpe]

You're by far the best music teacher on youtube, and I absolutely love some others, but your content has no contender, BIG thanks for everything!

[karimmakash]

I was here for “Don’t Look Back In Anger” ‘cause it’s the most recognizable song with this kind of chords 😍

[georgewhite]

Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon uses the chords "G to Cmin" back and forth in the chorus. It sounds so epic and dramatic!

[avedic]

Let's all spare a moment to give David a big Thank releasing videos SO consistently!
Seriously.
Not every channel does that. Most don't.
I can always rely on DBP to put out a new video once every 3 days or so. It always coincides with my days off work. Thanks!

[OurgasmComrade]

The example of In My Life has a beautiful example of an appoggiatura as well! Playing the B note over the D major chord on the strongest accent, then resolving it through the next notes before it goes over the Dm chord as an A note

[atrus]

It sounds really good as a companion to the doo-wop progression. For example, in the outro to Happiness is a Warm Gun, they vamp on the doo-wop progression for a few bars, and then it hits that iv. Another cool example is in Sleep Walk by Santo & Johnny where the IV has been completely replaced by the iv.

[HaskeTCE]

1:30 He really went "😭" on A flat minor 😭👍

[wtfdefaulthuman]

I learn more and more music theory when I watch your videos. You're amazing! <3
I've always loved minor 4, and I love it when songs use a 4 and then a minor 4 in order to get that "descending" tone.

[chrishelbling]

An equally lovely sister chord to iv is iv6, which sounds as an inverted ii7b5. Found in older, Tin Pan Alley era songs. Some call it the "White Christmas" chord: it sets up the ending on the lyric "bright, " and hints that the singer's holiday is anything but.

[josea.valentin]

How much I would've enjoyed having David as a music theory professor when I studied at the university! Not that my professors weren't great but David's popular music examples and explanation makes it all more clear and practical.

[notapplicableproductions]

I can’t believe you didn’t bring up Radiohead’s No Surprises!

[hadikibbi]

Minor 4 is by far my favorite chord and this video expressed it better than anything. Thank you for all the attention you put into this, absolutely killed it! Cheers!

[i.setyawan]

This video reminds me of the time when I was still actively learning the piano. I took classical piano lessons, and to combat boredom, I tried to teach myself how to play popular songs. My 'discovery' of IV-iv-I progression was and is still something I treasure. It was such a revelation for little me.