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