SOP - The Secret Chord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSlIKe_2kG8&list=PLMvVESrbjBWqiFknEG7ZeTk69soXSvU2J&index=20

What is the secret chord? Wht key is thing even in? Why do so many people cover this song? Can you think of a song that is this simple and yet so powerful?

How about this version (a whole strp lower than the version mentioned in the discussion, btw..): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ

Artist: Bob Tozier
School: North Allegheny

Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSlIKe_2kG8&list=PLMvVESrbjBWqiFknEG7ZeTk69soXSvU2J&index=20

What is the secret chord? Wht key is thing even in? Why do so many people cover this song? Can you think of a song that is this simple and yet so powerful?

How about this version (a whole strp lower than the version mentioned in the discussion, btw..): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ

Comments

Vaishnavee Sundararaman from: North Allegheny - posted: March 8, 2022
I think it was very interesting learning about the secret chord! I feel like this chort is used in so many pop songs today and I never knew about it! Pentatonix's Hallelujah is one of my favorite songs to hear because of how much emotion they put into the song. It was really amazing to know that the song used the secret chord!

Alli Kern from: North Allegheny - posted: March 13, 2022
I believe this song has been immensely popularized because of the sheer intrigue created by the continual switching from C major to A minor. Few songs can accomplish this feat so successfully, which is why Hallelujah is often covered by artists wishing to become more well-known.

Zoe Tracey from: North Allegheny - posted: March 17, 2022

The switch of the chords IS the secret chord. Thats also what makes this song so intriging. Switching between C major and A minor is unique because it does this and makes it sound good.

Ben Swihart from: North Allegheny - posted: March 17, 2022
i think its always interesting learning new chords to use because it feels like adding a new flavor to a library of tricks you can use when you write a song

Dillon Ferraro from: North Allegheny - posted: March 17, 2022

The secret chord is wack. Ever since we learned about it in class I can't stop hearing it in some of my favorite songs.

Joshua Morton from: North Allegheny - posted: March 17, 2022
the secret chord could be played in many different keys adnd is very interesting and wholsome of a sound

Bri Cobbey from: North Allegheny - posted: March 18, 2022
I never even knew that the secret chord was a thing, so when learning about it, I found it interesting that it could be found in a majority of my favortie songs. I really think that it helps give color to the music overall.

Cassandra Pultorak from: North Allegheny - posted: March 21, 2022
Totally agree that the pentatonix version is the best. Also never knew that the lyrics correlated to theory.

Tejal Dahake from: North Allegheny - posted: March 21, 2022
I think the secret chord is really interesting because it lets the song feel minor/major at the same time. By moving between Am and C, Hallelujah is given a moving and unique mood.

Charlotte Bentrim from: North Allegheny - posted: March 22, 2022

It is in the key of C major and A minor. So many people cover this song because it's popular, and somewhat simple.

Another example of a song like this is Breaking Benjamin's The Dark of You, it has the same drum beat throughout and swiches between only a few chords

Hannah Oldham from: North Allegheny - posted: March 22, 2022
I really love the switch from C to A minor, the secret chord honestly adds so much depth and makes the song very appealing to so many.

Sabrina Ferron from: North Allegheny - posted: March 22, 2022
The "secret chord" refers to the switch between C major and A minor. I think many people cover this song because it allows them to show off their vocal range. The way that the chord progressions follows the lyrics also makes it fairly simple for people to learn on their instrument.

Charles Cubelic from: North Allegheny - posted: March 22, 2022
The changing of this chord happens to be the secret chord. I loved learning about it and how I have never realized how many times it can actually be heard in music today.

Zachary Brkovich from: North Allegheny - posted: March 22, 2022
I think that this song gets covered so much because of the simple chords and the deep lyrics.

Dylan Shields from: North Allegheny - posted: March 22, 2022
The secret chord is really interesting because it lets the song feel minor and major at the same time, by moving between Am and C, I want to find more songs that use this technique.