Scott Paul Johnson

Music Theory Monday 27 | Power Chords and Magic Eye Puzzles

Added 2021-08-31 07:05:35 +0000 UTC

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Hi Everyone,

In this lesson I discuss the idea of power chords. They are a lot more than just an "easy" version of a "normal chord." Removing crucial information from the chord (the third) can make the waters a lot more murky, especially if you stick to I IV and V, but there are other interesting situations, too.

Your homework is:

1. Experiment with the attached backing track by playing a major scale, minor scale, or other combinations I mention in the video. See if you can make the backing track sound like it is playing the chords you imagine by emphasizing the thirds of the chords. Keep it to Major and Minor chords for this homework.

2. Write your own power chord progressions using more than just I, IV, & V. See if you can hear the progression in a major or minor key.

Post your findings on the community forum!

Also I called it a "magic eye" in the video, so put it in the title as well, but realistically, I'd describe the situation I brought up in the beginning of the video as more of an optical illusion like "The Spinning Dancer" that is spinning clockwise or counterclockwise depending on how you look at it.