16 May 2013

Post 77: THE I - IV - I (APPLE TREE) CHORD PROGRESSION

THE APPLE TREE PROGRESSION at the beginning of a tune is fairly common in traditional jazz, for example in the tunes listed below.

It is called The Apple Tree Progression because it was used in that lovely enduring song from 1905 - In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree.

What happens is that the song begins on the chord of the Tonic; it then moves on to the chord of the 4th note of the scale; and then back to the Tonic. So in the key of C, the first three chords would be C - F - C. The effect is that it gently rocks you away from the tonic and back on to it.

Hear it in:

Amazing Grace 
Blame It On The Blues [main theme] 
Bugle Boy March [main theme] 
Delia's Gone 
Gettysburg March 
Hush! Hush! Somebody's Calling My Name
I Love You Because
I'm Sitting On Top Of The World 
In The Sweet By and By 
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
I Wish'T I Was in Peoria
Lady Be Good 
Marching Through Georgia 
My Gal Sal 
My Old Kentucky Home 
Poor Old Joe
Precious Lord, Lead Me On
Red Sails In The Sunset 
Salutation March [main theme] 
Shine
Sometimes My Burden Is Too Hard To Bear 
The Rose Room 
Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie 
Walking With the King
Way Down Upon The Swanee River (aka The Old Folks At Home)
Walking the Dog
The Waltz You Saved for Me
What A Friend We Have In Jesus 
When You And I Were Young, Maggie
Redwing
Yearning