Your favorite tunes have something in common

Sound too good to be true? It’s not!  Hey there – Scott Houston here.  One of my three “Secrets” to teaching adults of any age how to learn AND enjoy playing the piano is that you only need a couple of chords to play dozens and dozens of songs that you know and enjoy.  Learning songs you like helps to keep you energized and makes the learning process enjoyable instead of a chore.  Over the years, many of the most popular songs we hear on the radio actually use this secret to create their chart topping hits.

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But don’t just take my word for it!  Below, you’ll find a comical video by the Australian comedy rock group “The Axis of Awesome.” Back in 2009, they preformed a skit to prove just how many chart topping hits only use 4 chords by meshing together 35+ songs into one “4 chord song.”  It demonstrates in a fun and entertaining way how just a few chords can open up the flood gates!

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WARNING: I must warn that there is one instance of “colorful” language at the beginning of this video – around the 0:45 second mark.  But don’t worry, the rest of the video is very clean and entertaining!  I think you’ll be surprised by how many tunes you recognize.

Here is a full list of the songs they play:

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Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
Alphaville – Forever Young
Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
Mika – Happy Ending
Alex Lloyd – Amazing
The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved
The Last Goodnight – Pictures Of You
U2 – With Or Without You
Crowded House – Fall At Your Feet
Kasey Chambers – Not Pretty Enough
The Beatles – Let it Be
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the Bridge
Daryl Braithwaite – The Horses
Bob Marley – No Woman No Cry
Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy
Men At Work – Land Down Under
Banjo Patterson – Waltzing Matilda
A Ha – Take On Me
Green Day – When I Come Around
Eagle Eye Cherry – Save Tonight
Toto – Africa
Beyonce – If I Were A Boy
The Offspring – Self Esteem
The Offspring – You’re Gonna Go Far Kid
Pink – You and Your Hand
Lady Gaga – Poker Face
Aqua – Barbie Girl
The Fray – You Found Me
30h!3 – Don’t Trust Me
MGMT – Kids
Tim Minchin – Canvas Bags
Natalie Imbruglia – Torn
Five For Fighting – Superman
Axis Of Awesome – Birdplane
Missy Higgins – Scar

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Pretty incredible huh?  With just a handful of chords in your pocket, songs that you know and love, just like these, will open up to you on the piano!

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Happy Playing!

Scott Houston