However, whichever keys the original songs are in, they do have their chord progressions – their essential formula – in common. To understand this properly, we need to introduce a bit of theory.

Step 4: Our second chord is a passing B major at the end of the bar, so we copy the A major chord we just made and paste it into position at 1.3.4.1, then shift the whole thing up two semitones.

Step 5: If we continue to move this chord to other notes, we’ll still get a major chord, because of the pattern between the notes. Move the chord notes to make it a G major (G-B-D). Now we’ll make a ...

Pop music might come off as formulaic sometimes, and, to some extent, that’s probably true. Hook Theory is a song database, and after analyzing 1,300 popular songs, looking at the chord ...