Over in the Piano section of PW, a poster asked about the 'Ice Cream Progression'. You might want to check it out.

I thought I would copy my response here as some adult beginners might want to start fooling around with it

I vi ii7 V7 (or I vi IV V7 I)

I used to teach adults on piano and organ this progression within the first month. LH.

(F and Dm7 are the same notes with D added in the base)

Once you learn these chords in your left hand you have a multitude of songs you can play with it!!!

I thought some of you might enjoy trying it. You can probably pick out the melody of several of the songs listed below 'by ear'.

Chords once per measure up to 4 times per measure on the slow songs (like Donna).

Enjoy!!


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Earth Angel
Donna
Duke of Earl
Stand By Me
Heart and Soul
Tears On My Pillow
Mysterious Girl
Stand By Me
Beautiful Girls
The Living Daylights
Those Magic Changes
Beauty School Dropout
Enola Gay
Every Breath You Take
Perfidia
Blue Moon
For Sentimental Reasons
Diana
Poor Little Fool (Ricky Nelson song)
String Along (Ricky Nelson song)
Last Kiss
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

All mentioned at Wiki.

I'll add
A Place in the Sun

A great chord progression to teach adult beginners by chord or piano or organ

When they get the progression down, they can learn lots of songs.

Also used for ear training for them to pick out a melody by ear and then add the chords.

Also good for teaching how to add harmony under the melody notes as they get to 'know' the notes in the chords really well after a few songs!

Was there a song called 'Ice Cream'? If not I wonder how it got titled that? I always just called it 1 6 2 5 or written out with the minors and 7th chords with Roman Numerals

Is there a mint chocolate chip version?

You mean the richer Yummy Yummy version?

Me thinks that is the Dm7 addition!

Oh wait, that's the triple chocolate fudge version, isn't it?

Thanks, lilylady! Say, I was reading the other thread about it and am still befuddled: Why is it called the "ice cream" progression? And do other chord progressions have cute names like that as well?

written by 'Zumec' on wordreference.com forum:
There are chord progressions that are used so often they have become known as ice-cream chords because they are so simple, sweet, and familiar

I was taught it as a 16/25 turn around...

A Summer Place
http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2007/05/15/max-steiner-theme-from-summer-place-1960/

"I was incredulous when I learned that Max Steiner wrote the theme from ” A Summer Place.” He was in his 70s when he wrote it. The chord progression [I vi ii V][/b] was the same one used in the majority of 1950s and early 60s rock songs.."

Monster...I think I get the 16 measures but not the 25....

????

Elssa - OF COURSE!!! How could we forget that piece?

I had to look up Max Steiner though. Goodness I used to play Tara's Theme from Gone with the Wind and pretend I was Scarlett!!! (stop smirking now, ya hear!)

Diane suggested a variation on the ice cream progression in teacher's forum

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/27/2823.html

I like it!

LL I thought Monster meant I vi ii V for 16/25? that's what I gathered...

Dah....

:p :p :p

you got it lilylady...

The first week my teacher showed me the 1 6 2 5 turn around ... the next week he asks...so hows the 16/25 turn around doing?...I just gave him a blank look 16/25...we never talked about that...

Hi Lillylady:

I guess "A Summer Place" can be played well enough on piano with the 1625 pattern using triplet chords in left hand? Such a pretty tune.

Just found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0r6Np_0YtU

Tara's Theme is fun to play with full octave/chords on the piano!