It’s Bonus Chord Day here at the 3 Chord Club! Today we’ll learn three songs by ear that contain our favorite I-IV-V(V7) chords and a bonus minor chord. When songwriters venture out past the realm of the I-IV-V (V7) one of the first chords they’ll go for is the vi chord (6 minor), the chord built off the sixth note of the major scale. In the key of C the vi would be A minor. Two of the three songs today do that, and one song subs the V (5 major) for the v (5 minor). How cool is that!

At the 3 Chord Club we choose three songs from a specific artist, label or genre of music that we’ll learn by ear. All the songs will contain three chords or less (except on Bonus Chord Day)! Since you know the song only has one to three major chords and one minor chord try to figure out the changes, or chord progression by ear. Here’s a hint, most of the time the chords will be the I-IV & V or V7 chords. In the Key of C, that’s C-F-G or G7. Remember, the sound examples may be in various keys. For bonus ear training, try to figure out the original key!

I Can’t See Nobody–The Bee Gees
(Hint: v-IV-I-V)


Please, Mister Postman–The Marvelettes
(Hint: I-vi-IV-V)

Maybe Baby–Buddy Holly
(Hint: I-vi-I-vi-I to…)

Songs presented are for educational purposes only and used under the fair use doctrine of United States copyright law.