The Missing Chord Skill Most Piano Students Don't Have

Learn how to spice up traditional pop chord progressions using passing chords, secondary dominants, slash chords & borrowed chords on piano.

📥 Download handwritten notes, staff notation, MIDI files & backing tracks — support us on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/ear-training-155862222

Ever noticed how pop songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s feel so much richer than modern pop? That's because composers back then used classical and old-school harmonic techniques that are often forgotten today. In this lesson, Jason Zac shows you how to bring that depth back into your own playing.

Starting with a plain diatonic C major progression, Jason walks you through how to add colour between the tonic and the relative minor using line clichés (C – G/B – Am), chromatic walk-downs, and secondary dominants like E7 resolving to Am. You'll also learn how to use secondary diminished chords for that harmonic-minor flavour.

Next, we look at movement from I to IV using dominant chords, Mixolydian motion (Bb/C to F), and gospel-style slash chords over a tonic pedal. Then Jason breaks down the ii–V–I cadence, altered ii chords, suspended dominants, tritone substitutions (Db7 replacing G7), and how these tiny changes transform the melody itself.

The lesson also covers borrowed chords from the parallel minor — including the epic cadence (bVI – bVII – I) and the minor iv chord (Fm6 / D half-diminished) — plus a deep dive into using slash chords as passing chords to create smooth chromatic bass lines. These are the exact techniques you won't find in Ultimate Guitar or ChatGPT chord sheets, but they're what real composers actually play.

If you play pop, gospel, worship, or write your own songs, these concepts will instantly upgrade your harmonic vocabulary. Grab your keyboard, play along, and don't forget to hit subscribe for two new lessons every week. Handwritten notes, MIDI files, notation and backing tracks are available on our Patreon.

🏫 Courses, Workshops or Private lessons ➡️ https://forms.gle/fsbhFKSgJbZ5xZEr8

=============================

📹 Our Video Courses (Everything for Life Bundle) - https://learn-music.nathanielschool.com/

🏡 Visit our Channel for more Tutorials & Performances - https://geni.us/NathanielYouTube

=============================

▶️ Related Videos & Playlists

🎬 Compose with Dorian Mode & Chord Progressions - https://youtu.be/NCFZhIyG0Y8
🎯 Advanced Piano: Suspended, Slash & Diminished 7th - https://youtu.be/eY0Gtz3VK1I
🔑 Piano Left Hand: 9th Chords & Walking Bass - https://youtu.be/YCJyoW0afP4
💡 Extend Major, Minor & Dominant 7th Chords - https://youtu.be/uuefI0cJcV4
📂 Jazz Lessons - Chords, Standards & Exercises - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNNL05e9FT9ZCriHyNonJasffWWSCS_E

=============================

🎓 Learn Music With Nathaniel School of Music & Jason Zac: https://nathanielschool.com
📚 All our YouTube lessons (1000+) categorised by skill level, topic & genre all in one place: https://free-music-lessons.nathanielschool.com

⏳ Chapter markers
00:00 - Performance
00:44 - Introduction: Why Modern Pop Sounds Flat 🎹
01:28 - The Problem with One-Chord Songs
01:36 - Diatonic Chords in C Major Recap
01:54 - Adding 7ths to Diatonic Chords
02:32 - Part 1: Tonic to Relative Minor Journey
03:07 - Line Cliché Walk-Down: C – G/B – Am 🎼
04:09 - Chromatic Drop from C to A
04:25 - A Major & F/A Slash Chord Option
05:00 - Secondary Dominant: E7 to Am
05:59 - Bluesy Melodic Possibilities
07:30 - Secondary Diminished Chord to Am
08:02 - Harmonic Minor Flavour vs Blues Flavour
08:38 - Part 2: Moving from I to IV
09:24 - Mixolydian Motion: Bb/C to F 🎵
10:06 - Gm to F Subtle Approach
10:32 - Part 3: Staying on the Tonic Creatively (Gospel Slash Chords)
11:05 - Dm/C, F/C and Plagal Colour
11:55 - Using the Diminished Chord as a Pass
12:07 - Drone-Style Tonic Grooves
12:20 - Passing Chords as Rhythmic Tools
12:58 - Part 4: The ii–V–I Cadence
13:38 - Altering the ii Chord as a Dominant
14:34 - Part 5: Working with the V Chord
14:38 - Sus4 Suspensions on the Dominant
15:00 - C/G Slash Over Dominant Function
15:38 - F/G – The 11th Sound 🎶
15:55 - Tritone Substitution: Db7 for G7
17:05 - Part 6: Borrowed Chords from Minor
17:35 - Why This Cadence Works for Any Song
18:12 - The Minor iv Chord (Fm6)
18:35 - Half-Diminished ii Connection
20:15 - Part 7: Slash Chords as Passing Chords
22:21 - Why Slash Chord Resolution Feels Powerful
22:46 - Caution: Don’t Trust Google Chords ⚠️
23:22 - Final Thoughts & Patreon Notes 📥

💰 Donate on PayPal: https://geni.us/DonatePayPal
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonzac
📞 +917760456847 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
📧 Customised & Private Classes: music@nathanielschool.com
🎧 Listen to Jason Zac Music: https://riffs.jasonzacmusic.com/

Видео The Missing Chord Skill Most Piano Students Don't Have канала Jason Zac - Nathaniel School of Music