Is it Possible to 'Steal' a Chord Progression? | How To Write Songs

We dive into a bit of jazz chord theory to unpack this chord progression, apply it to other chord variations, and answer the question: did John Legend steal it? (Spoiler: No! You can't copyright a chord progression).

Do songwriters 'steal' chord progressions? And if so, is that okay? The chord progression to this John Legend song has an awesome neo-soul vibe, and I explain why is sounds so good, and what the two key music theory concepts are driving the sound of this progression. I show you how to use the concepts to come up with your own variations for your songs and songwriting, and talk about what it means to 'steal' a chord progression—how to 'steal like an artist', a phrase coined by writer and artist Austin Kleon.

Get the ///FREE PDF\\\ of the chord progression, chord shapes, and chord variations demonstrated in the video here: https://howtowritesongs.gumroad.com/l...

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CREDITS:
John Legend (photo) - Joe Pugliese
Austin Kleon (photo) - austinkleon.com/Clayton Cubitt

Slow Cooker, by John Legend (c) 2020 Columbia Records
Just Friends (Sunny), by Musiq Soulchild (c) 2000 The Island Def Jam Music Group

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#steallikeanartist