Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 10
- Edexcel
Composing a chord sequence for a pop song
I can compose a chord sequence for a pop song.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 10
- Edexcel
Composing a chord sequence for a pop song
I can compose a chord sequence for a pop song.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
These resources were made for remote use during the pandemic, not classroom teaching.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Chord sequences provide the harmony of a song. Chords I, IV, V and vi are the most common.
- Roman numerals refer to degrees of the scale which allow musicians to work out chord patterns in different keys.
- We have performed the I - V - vi - IV chord sequence in the key of C, F and G and composed a 4- or 8-bar sequence.
- When writing chord sequences for a pop song, we also need to consider using common notes from the riff.
Keywords
Chord sequence - a repeating pattern of chords also referred to as a chord progression or pattern
Harmony - the notes that accompany the melody of a song; the chord sequence provides the harmony in music
Chords I, IV, V and vi - chords I, IV, V and vi are the four main chords in pop music; I - V - vi - IV is a very popular chord sequence
Common misconception
Chord sequences have to follow fixed rules exactly.
We use parameters as a guide to give a musical starting point for composing, but sometimes you might find other chords work. Always encourage pupils to try out a few ideas and perform their ideas so they can hear what they sound like.
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: Composing a chord sequence for a pop song, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: Composing a chord sequence for a pop song, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 4 music lessons from the Introduction to pop music unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Keyboard, DAW or other suitable instrument as a composing tool.
Licence
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