Listening List

Songs to study, grouped by the idea they show well. You don't need all of them. Pick one or two per session.

Always better: use songs he already loves. Any song with a clear verse and chorus works for mapping — J-pop, anime openings, game music with vocals, K-pop. This list is a backup.

Producer note: preview for content before playing. Use clean/radio edits where they exist.

Song structure and hooks (Sessions 1, 3)

• "Happy" — Pharrell Williams
• "Shake It Off" — Taylor Swift
• "Firework" — Katy Perry
• "Counting Stars" — OneRepublic

The four-chord loop (Session 1)

• "Let It Be" — The Beatles (I–V–vi–IV)
• "Someone Like You" — Adele (I–V–vi–IV)
• "Don't Stop Believin'" — Journey (I–V–vi–IV in the verse)
• "Despacito" — Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (vi–IV–I–V)
• "Stand By Me" — Ben E. King (I–vi–IV–V)
• "Viva la Vida" — Coldplay (IV–V–I–vi)

Grooves (Session 2)

• Basic rock beat: "Shake It Off" — Taylor Swift
• Four on the floor: "Levitating" — Dua Lipa
• Dembow: "Despacito" — Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Pre-chorus (Sessions 5, 9)

• "Call Me Maybe" — Carly Rae Jepsen
• "Firework" — Katy Perry

Syncopation and flow (Session 9)

• "Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• "Shape of You" — Ed Sheeran

Minor mood (Session 7)

• "Rolling in the Deep" — Adele
• "Believer" — Imagine Dragons
• "Zombie" — The Cranberries (same four chords as vi–IV–I–V, but it feels minor — a great "which chord is home?" debate)

Borrowed chords (Session 7)

• "In My Life" — The Beatles (listen for the minor iv chord near the end of the verse)
• "Hey Jude" — The Beatles (the long "na na na" ending uses ♭VII: I–♭VII–IV–I)
• The Super Mario Bros. level-complete fanfare (ends ♭VI–♭VII–I: the "Mario cadence")

Basslines and riffs (Session 8)

• "Another One Bites the Dust" — Queen
• "Billie Jean" — Michael Jackson
• "Seven Nation Army" — The White Stripes (a riff that sounds like a bassline)

Bridges and key changes (Session 10)

• "Love Story" — Taylor Swift (bridge, then a key change up for the final chorus)
• "Livin' on a Prayer" — Bon Jovi (key change in the final chorus)
• "Man in the Mirror" — Michael Jackson (key change)

Production (Session 11)

• "Bad Guy" — Billie Eilish (drop-outs, ear candy, unusual sounds)
• "Blinding Lights" — The Weeknd (synth layers, energy curve)