International Chords Song

from The Well Trained Ear: songs to strengthen aural skills by David Newman

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about

The first truly educational aural skills song I wrote, on a dare from one of my students. I subtitled it "How to identify German, French and Neapolitan chords in under a minute." This song, as with most of my aural skills songs, uses functional solfege as a framework. (Moveable Do, and Do based minor and modes, so that functional chords are always "spelled" the same way in any key.)

The song gives simple instructions for identifying the chords, naming the notes as they are sung. The melody on the first appearance of the French chord rests on the note that differentiates it from the German.

This song has continued to be revised since I first posted it on YouTube, and it now arpeggiates the Neapolitan chord both times it is mentioned.

lyrics

Sometimes I like to hear some German
Sometimes I like to hear some French
Sometimes I like to hear a nice diminished seven
Or some other chords that I won't even mention

The German chord resolves Le-So and Fi-So.
The French chord is just like it, but with Re instead of Me
But though I love these nationalities so
Neapolitan makes my day
Neapolitan makes my day.

credits

from The Well Trained Ear: songs to strengthen aural skills, released May 20, 2019
David Newman - Piano, Voice
Sam Suggs - Acoustic Bass

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about

David Newman Harrisonburg, Virginia

Educational Songwriter, Classical Singer, Digital Creator and Innovator, Science Geek and Music Nerd.

Music Theory and Voice Faculty at James Madison University.

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