I currently am writing this post while on a plane to Seattle for my spring break. I should be writing my edTPAs, but oh well. The only reason I felt this was important information to include is because I am wearing a shirt with Tom Petty’s face on it. I just love him so much!
This week I was able to practice the up and down strumming technique. This was the next lesson on my Yousician syllabus and I was able to watch videos and practice this technique. Strumming up and down allows you to strum faster and play more complicated rhythms. I am still struggling a bit with changing chord quickly. Some chords have similar hand shapes and are easier to quickly change from chord to chord, while others can be very challenging. Along with practicing this week, I looked deeper into the theory behind the chords chosen for my favorite Tom Petty song. The version of “Yer So Bad” I have chosen to play is written in the key of G Major. There are three sections to this song: verse, pre-chorus and chorus. The verse has a chord progression of ii, V, I, ii (Am, D, G, Am), the pre-chorus has a progression of iv, IV, V, I (Em, C, D, G), and the chorus has a progression of I, V, IV (G, D, C). The pre-chorus progression ends in an authentic cadence. This means the phrase ends by going from a V chord to a I chord and tends to sound “complete”. The chorus ends in a deceptive cadence because it goes from V to IV, or not I. You would expect a V chord to go to a I chord in order sound complete (like an authentic cadence), but a deceptive cadence fools you! It leaves you wanting more! No matter what cadence or chord progression Tom Petty uses, I always want more! I still don’t know too much behind the “why” of the chords and chord progressions. Tom Petty could just very well be a genius and know how to write killer songs without even thinking! I will continue my hunt for answers next week, as well as get into playing Yer So Bad. As we come up to the final week, I figure I better start learning the song I set out to play in the first place. Stay tuned for many more adventures on my quest to becoming a Heartbreaker.
2 Comments
3/28/2016 06:09:39 pm
Sophia-
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Sarah Hunter
4/27/2016 12:50:44 pm
Great job modeling how to be a lifelong learner: always searching for "the why" behind the way things are! I think that where great musicians are concerned we may never know the process to becoming legendary. But when you reach that status yourself be sure to let us little people know! ;)
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During my time at CSUSM, we participated in a 20% project. This blog chronicles my 20% journey!
Cover photo credits: http://bighassle.com/publicity/tom-petty-the-heartbreakers Archives
April 2016
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