Four chords isn't too simple
Hey music makers! Ever hear a progression so simple… it feels genius?
This week, we’re breaking down one of those four-chord progressions that create haunting motion and emotional depth, all without leaving the key. It’s modal harmony in its purest form.
And if decoding progressions like this lights you up, Harmony GPS is now open.
Let’s jump in.
Real Song. Real Progression.
Fm - Ab - Eb - Bb 💿 "Mad World" by Gary Jules, originally written and recorded by Tears for Fears.
The break down
Key: F Dorian (modal harmony, not simple major/minor)
Roman numerals: i - III - VII - IV
Why it works: This progression starts with the essential i-IV framework (Fm-Bb) established in the intro, then expands it by delaying the IV chord with two intermediate chords.
Notice how Ab-Eb-Bb moves clockwise around the circle of fifths, creating smooth harmonic motion that builds tension before resolving to the IV chord.
The magic moment: The Dorian mode gives this simple framework sophisticated color. That raised 6th degree (D natural instead of Db) in F Dorian brightens the minor key just enough to create bittersweet rather than purely sad emotions.
Try this: Play Fm-Ab-Eb-Bb and feel how it expands the basic i-IV relationship. The progression always returns home to Fm, but takes a beautiful harmonic journey through the circle of fifths to get there.
🧠 Term of the Week: Modal Harmony
What it sounds like: Chord progressions that feel harmonically sophisticated yet avoid traditional functional relationships.
What it is: Using scales (modes) other than major and minor to color familiar chord progressions.
F Dorian gives "Mad World" its distinctive sound - it's like F minor but with a raised 6th degree (D natural instead of Db) that creates unique harmonic flavors.
Why it works: For the casual listener regular chord progressions are like conversations with predictable endings. Modal harmony is like poetry - each chord creates its own emotional moment without needing to "resolve" to feel complete.
The same four chords in F Dorian feel completely different than they would in F major or F minor.
Common modal colors:
Dorian: Minor with a brighter 6th - bittersweet, nostalgic
Mixolydian: Major with a flattened 7th - bluesy, unresolved
Aeolian: Natural minor - dark, introspective
In practice: Try playing any four-chord progression, then lower or raise one note in the scale. Instant sophistication without adding complexity.
🎯 Challenge for the Week
Unlock Modal Colors in Your Progressions
Step 1: Take any minor progression you know and raise the 6th note of the scale (A minor becomes A Dorian when you change F to F#).
Notice how this single note change creates a brighter, more complex minor feeling and unlocks new chord possibilities in your progressions.
Step 2: Try the same with a major progression - flatten the 7th note (like G major becoming G Mixolydian).
Feel how it adds a bluesy, unresolved quality.
Step 3: Compare both versions side by side.
Modal harmony gives you access to emotional territories that pure major/minor simply can't reach.
Here's my confession: I've always gravitated toward four-chord progressions and two-chord grooves, but for the longest time I couldn't explain why.
Honestly? I thought it was just my novice-level harmony skills. While other musicians were throwing around jazz chords, I was stuck on simple loops.
But then I noticed that "simple" progressions gave me space...space for melody, emotion, and musical exploration without getting lost in harmonic complexity.
Gary Jules' "Mad World" version is well crafted: devastation through essentially a i-IV framework.
Maybe my "novice" instincts were onto something lol.
Short progressions aren't limitations - they're focusing tools. When you strip away harmonic clutter, every note has to earn its emotional weight.
✉️ That's a wrap
What's your go-to simple progression that just works every time? Reach me at mel@melvindarrell.com. I read everything.
See you next week. Melvin ✌🏾
P.S. If you’re enjoying these breakdowns and want to go deeper, my new course Harmony GPS is open for early access. It’s a 30-day roadmap to chord fluency for music makers who want to move beyond memorizing and start creating with real clarity.
