“Freddie’s Dead” Turns Two Minor Chords Into Magic | 70s Soul Chords and Theory

Описание: Curtis Mayfield’s “Freddie’s Dead” from the legendary Superfly soundtrack is one of the smoothest, funkiest, and most gorgeous soul records of the 1970s...and it’s built on surprisingly few chords.

In this video, we break down the riffs, chord voicings, and harmony behind this classic track and show how Mayfield and arranger Johnny Pate created lush orchestral soul textures using just two minor chords.

You’ll learn how the song:
Builds energy with minor pentatonic unison riffs
Outlines tonic harmony through bass + guitar lines instead of block chords
Lives almost entirely on C#m7 and F#m9 (i → iv)
Blends minor 9 and minor 11 colors for that signature 70s soul sound
Avoids dominant chords to create a dreamy, endless groove
Adds surprise with a direct chromatic key change

It’s a masterclass in minimal harmony, rich arrangement, and groove-based songwriting, and a perfect example of why the Superfly soundtrack is considered one of the greatest soul albums ever made.

If you enjoy deep dives into R&B, soul, funk, and music theory, this breakdown will show you exactly what makes Curtis Mayfield’s style so timeless.

Here's Ella Feingold's demonstration of "Freddie's Dead"
  / dijqgbqocxu  
You can find the full lesson on her Patreon
  / curtis-mayfield-126125561  

For early release lessons and other content, or if you just want to support me making more videos on the music theory, history, and techniques behind classic pop songs, check out my Patreon at   / howpopmusicworks  .

Find my more casual breakdowns at my other channel, How Pop Music Works Live.

0:16 The Intro Riff
1:26 Intro Riff Demo
1:32 A Section Riff/Vamp
2:34 The A Section Chord (C#m7)
3:04 Curtis Mayfield's C#m7 Strum Pattern
3:44 Strum Pattern Demo
3:56 The B Section
4:46 B Section Demo
5:04 Minor 1 and 4 and Endless Grooves
6:14 The Surprise Key Shift (Direct Chromatic Modulation)
7:28 A and B Section Demo
8:09 What Did We Learn?

Intro and Outro music based on the chords of "Waterfalls", recorded and mixed by me :)