So when I’m putting together a lesson, I usually like to also create a playlist on Spotify to go along with it, and if I feel like it give an extra assignment for those folks who are, like, super overachievers.

I think I’ll go ahead and give a simple assignment this time–that is, if any of you are interested in trying to transcribe any of these melodies and figure out which notes in their respective major scales are being played, have at it. But I’m really just interested in showcasing just how widely used this major scale system is. There’s music from all over the world that can be analyzed using the “Western” major scale. Nowadays, since one could make the case that we basically live in one world culture, you can also make the case that pop music is the music of that culture. And it definitely uses the Western major scale, Western harmony, and whatnot.

But, that’s neither here nor there. If you’re interested in flexing your major scale muscles, listen to these melodies and try to analyze them using numbers relative to the tonic. This is a tricky thing to do if you don’t have much experience with dictation, so if you want some help definitely let me know.

Anyway, here’s the playlist on Spotify:

Track by track, here’s what’s going on here:

Dancing in the Dark, by Bruce Springsteen – I’ve already talked about this one in the post that goes with Lesson #4. Go read some about that there.

Tradimento, by Barbara Strozzi. – Barbara Strozzi is one of my favorite composers of the 17th century, which in my opinion is the best century in all the history of Western Art Music. She was one of the few independent female composers of her day, supported largely by a single Italian nobleman who (it’s rumored) was also her lover. This particular piece is one of a collection of amazing songs, and is one of my favorite pieces of Italian music ever.

Steal My Girl, by One Direction – My six-year-old son likes to consume culture by binging. He gets super into something, and then listens to it until everyone else in the family wishes they’d never heard of it before. This song was on that list for a while. It’s got a pretty simple, catchy melody that should be reasonably easy to transcribe. If you’re a beginner at figuring out melodies by ear, start with this one!

Roxanne, by Arizona Zervas – It’s my considered opinion that, as a teacher, if you don’t learn something from your students then you’re either not challenging yourself enough or you’re not paying attention. This song was brought to me by two Spanish students of mine, who kept asking me what the lyrics meant. I learned a lot by trying to explain to Spanish kids with limited English proficiency what a “player” and an “asshole” is.

Second Hand News, by Fleetwood Mac – If you’re not into One Direction but looking for a simple melody to try to figure out, then this is the one for you. Check it out. Fleetwood Mac is the bomb.

Dancing in the Dark, by Marshall Escamilla – For my son’s sixth birthday, I recorded what was at the time his favorite song and released it on a single with a track we’d written together. Technically, I’ve reharmonized it so it’s no longer in a major key, but that’s neither here nor there. I mostly included it just to promote myself here.

Homeless, by Paul Simon (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) – What a great song this is! Picking out which part is “the melody” is going to be tricky. But it’s worth a good listen, isn’t it?

The 59th Street Bridge Song, by Simon and Garfunkel – Another nice, simple tune. The fact that Simon and Garfunkel sing so often in two part harmony might make it a bit tricky, but don’t be discouraged!

La Bicicleta, by Shakira and Carlos Vives – In my first year in Barcelona, this song was totally ubiquitous, and damn catchy.

The Sunday Song, by The Unbearables – The Unbearables were the band I fronted from 2003 until 2009, when we decided to go our separate ways. This particular song is entirely in C-major, and still challenges my upper range as a singer.

Brandenburg Concerto no. 1 in F major, by J.S. Bach – This piece is a bit crazy to analyze, so I really don’t recommend it. But if you can pick out one melody, give it a go! You need to keep in mind that Bach modulates (or changes key) quite a bit, as that was part of the art form of the High Baroque era when he was composing. Be wary of that.

En el Campo Estoy, y Hacia el Rio Voy, by Elia y Elisabeth – Elia and Elisabeth were teen pop stars in Colombia in the 1970s. Personally, I discovered them through the Narcos soundtrack. This is another super simple melody that would be great for you beginners to try!

Nearly all the remaining songs were ones I discovered by searching the iTunes top 100 in random countries like the Philippines and Cameroon. Charlotte Dipanda is one of the greatest gems I discovered that way. What a singer! BTS you’ve probably heard of already, and I have to say I find this song of theirs to be more than a little funny.

The last song on the playlist is by one of my favorite Mexican singers, Natalia Lafourcade. She’s a dynamo, and if you haven’t listened to her record Hasta La Raiz, you definitely need to!