Analyzing The Chords of John Lennon's 'Imagine' - Perfect Progressions #4

This video deeply analyzes John Lennon's Imagine, specifically the chord progressions used to make up the song. In addition, we take a look at the arrangement, production, and other musical choices that all sum up this iconic composition.

Music theory is simply a way to describe what songwriter's have done. All of the composing tricks used in this song were clearly in John Lennon's vocabulary, whether he used their proper academic name (secondary dominant / pedal tone / etc.) is not relevent. What matters is understanding why this composition feels the way it does, and use that knowledge to our own benefit as composers!
Take note- this song was written on piano. Even if you're a lousy key player, you should be able to take these chords to the piano and see how simple of a song it really is. You'll also see how the geometry of the piano itself probably played a giant part in why the song was written the way it was. It falls very easly on the hands.

Special thanks to my Patreon subscribers for making these videos possible! Especially these groovy folks:
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In This Video:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Verse Chords
03:00 Why Voicings Matter
04:15 Creating Melody Within Chords
06:25 Mystery Ninth
07:34 Double Tracking
08:16 Chorus Chords
10:44 Refrain
13:31 Summary

[euphoriamusic]

This guy is way better than my music theory teacher.

[evalonious]

Wow! I finally found a YouTube music teacher who doesn't make you sit through 10 minutes talking cats, stories of last weekends BBQ, or Magic Biscuits and Sunglasses that make you a better songwriter.

Direct and to the point! Well done video series!

Thanks!

[irrefudiate]

I appreciated the way the teacher started with 'basic' and gradually progressed to 'refined', while defining the reason for the refinement all along the way. It was so controlled and smooth.

[sebastiansilva]

I feel like the E chord in this situation (as in many other uses of the III chord) does, in fact, work as a secondary dominant, in the way that the resolution from E to F is kind of like a deceptive cadence. This works because F is a very similar chord to Am (F is Am's submediant) so it has much in common with, say, a V - vi.

[itsmikk]

This is a very nice breakdown of 'Don't look back in Anger' by Oasis

[ericathlan]

On the chromatic passage, I thought you were off your rockers. I could have sworn he did play a C and remembering it in my head, I've always heard it as a 4 note passage. I was shocked when I listened to it again and realised there was an empty beat with no note there, a serious (and disturbing) case of auditory hallucination ;-) Great analysis, thanx Jake.

[-JohnGalt-]

What a great presentation Jake. I find it hard to learn songs via tabs or other videos, because this is what I truly crave; an informed and in-depth analysis of not just how to mechanically play the song, but how all the elements fit together. I always want to learn something from a song, something I can take away and use in my own music. You meet these expectations beautifully--not many do. Keep up the fantastic work!

[raystaar]

Thanks Jake, for such a clear exposition of this deceptively masterful song. If we could only find a way to realize what John imagined for us, we might have a chance to survive.

[robingahan]

"Slip inside the eye of your mind!" ...oops, wrong song

[joedoherty]

Man every time I watch a Jake Lizzio video I have to go sit at the piano and fuck around with chord progressions. Somehow your videos are the most reliable music inspiration for me. Your practical approach makes it so easy to understand and use concepts instantly

[RCSmiths]

Imagine is one of the best of all time indeed. John Lennon surely wrote great tunes, whether Solo or with The Beatles.

[jajlertil]

This channel is constantly putting out pure quality content and joy for music, loving it!

[dandamerville]

I've been hacking around music since the day after The Beatles (a band from Liverpool, England) first appeared on tv (short for television, a popular medium for broadcasting sounds and images in the last century). Every time I take the time to view/listen to one of Jake's offerings, I learn so much about topics I thought I knew pretty much everything about. Thank you, Jake, for reminding me (once again) that musicianship is an endless journey, always more to learn.

[ikozbari]

I have to lose this: this channel is just brilliant, the presentation, the topics, the explanations and just your delivery makes a complete package that i really enjoy. One of the few rare channels that actually teaches something.

Keep it up and thanks alot.

[donkeyfacekilla]

Excellent video. These are so helpful. Your explanations really help demystify the theory but also highlight the beauty of the songs and the depth of quality songwritingn

[markkington]

brother, love ya work mate. not often you find such an engaging teacher of the craft of writing music. thanking you for your consistency in delivery of this information.. cheers mate

[johnpatowary]

This is brilliant...you seriously do the most amazing dissection of classics! This was sheer perfection! Absolutely loved it👍

[Corey_G]

Great Analysis!!!

Love these types of videos, can’t get enough of them!

I would love to see hundreds of great songs broken down how you explain them.

Great explanations, and video visuals.

Thanks for Sharing.
😁👍👍👍

[kasiaitomekfotografia]

Man, your videos are so great! Thank you for sharing knowledge!

[JeffMountainPicker]

Excellent video with the very talented Jake Lizzio guiding us gently through a beautifully simple song with tons of clever subtleties.
Thank you for that, Jake!