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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.

More from this series:

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Files

MTM- Power Chords and Magic Eye Puzzles_v01.mov

This is "MTM- Power Chords and Magic Eye Puzzles_v01.mov" by Scott Paul Johnson on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Comments

Mr K

Good lesson, thanks Scott! Pre covid I used to play the Foo Fighters version of Baker Street with a friend. I would do power chords as he played the solo at the end and it wasn't until just now that I 'saw' the in between notes that really made the solo what it was and why the power chords allowed for that subtly. Another step towards the new language! : )