Here’s a list of songs I’ve analyzed. I’ll be adding to it daily – it takes time to publish everything and describe it in English (which isn’t my native language btw). Each entry might be about a chord progression, a topline melody, a drum pattern, bass groove or guitar riff – in other words anything that triggered my curiosity, made me want to dive deeper and share it.
What does this practice actually give me?
- A ritual. Whenever I feel empty or low-energy, I don’t step away from music — I simply look at it from a different angle.
- A kind of meditation. When my mind is restless, instead of drawing mandalas, I take a piece of music I love and search for something inside it that can brighten my day.
- A perfect ear-training exercise. It sharpens your sense of instrumentation, song structure, chord movement, and more — something you can always keep in your toolbox.
My personal tips
- No rush. You’re not analyzing music for an exam or for someone else. This isn’t work — it’s leisure. Savour every moment.
- Don’t analyze the whole song. Choose only the fragments that spark curiosity or simply please your ear. Don’t turn it into a routine. Never turn it into a routine.
- Focus on one element if you want. You can analyze just the chords, or one instrument, or a drum pattern… or the interplay between a melodic topline and the harmony beneath it. Maybe a bass groove or a guitar riff.
Whatever feels right to you is right.
Jordan Rakei - Borderline Chord Progression Analysis