Monday, June 29, 2026

Some music theoryh

 That makes perfect sense. 

With the progression: 

G  →  Bm  →  Am7

V     ?      vi

the Bm is acting primarily as a linear/passing chord. Notice the bass line: 

G → B → A

and the chord tones: 

G    = G  B  D

Bm   = B  D  F#

Am7  = A  C  E  G

The notes B and D are common to G and Bm, so the Bm sounds like a smooth extension of the G harmony before settling into Am7. 

Another way to hear it is as a temporary iii chord in G major

G major scale:

G  A  B  C  D  E  F#


iii = Bm

ii  = Am

So for a moment the harmony leans toward G-major colors before returning to the song's overall key center. 

What's especially interesting is that you've already identified several "color" chords: 

Cm

D♭maj7

Fm6

Bm

This is very characteristic of sophisticated Motown and R&B writing. Rather than staying strictly in C major, the song moves freely between: 

  • C major harmony


  • borrowed chords from C minor (Cm, Fm6)


  • chromatic color chords (D♭maj7)


  • smooth voice-leading chords (Bm)


If I saw G → Bm → Am7 in a chart, I would probably think: 


"The Bm is there because it sounds beautiful between G and Am7."


The voice leading is more important than assigning it an elaborate Roman numeral. 

You can think of it as: 

G → Bm → Am7

V   vii/??  vi

but in practice I'd simply call it a chromatic mediant/passing chord connecting G and Am7. 

That's one of the things that makes songs like All I Do Is Think of You so rich—the harmony is driven by elegant voice leading and color, not just traditional functional harmony.


YouTube success plan

 Succeeding on YouTube today isn’t about luck—it’s a mix of strategy, consistency, and understanding your audience. Here’s a clear, practical roadmap you can follow: 



🎯 1. Pick a Clear Niche (and Stick to It)


Don’t try to appeal to everyone. 

✅ Good niches: 

  • Education (e.g., writing tips, history, coding)


  • Entertainment (comedy, storytelling)


  • Reviews (books, tech, movies)


  • Lifestyle or commentary


👉 Tip: Since you're an English instructor, you could stand out with: 

  • Writing tips


  • Grammar explained simply


  • Storytelling breakdowns


  • “Why this book works” analyses




🧠 2. Make Videos People Actually Want


Ask yourself one question before posting: “Would someone search for or click this?” 

Focus on: 

  • Solving problems (“How to write a great essay”)


  • Curiosity (“Why most students write bad introductions”)


  • Strong opinions or insights


👉 Use formats like: 

  • “How to…”


  • “Top 5…”


  • “Mistakes to avoid…”




🪝 3. Hook Viewers in the First 10 Seconds


This is critical—most viewers leave early. 

✅ Strong opening example: 


“Most essays fail in the first paragraph—and here’s why.”


Avoid slow intros, logos, or rambling. 



🎥 4. Prioritize Watch Time & Retention


YouTube promotes videos people watch all the way through. 

To improve this: 

  • Get to the point quickly


  • Cut boring parts


  • Use pattern breaks (questions, humor, visuals)


  • Keep pacing tight




🖼️ 5. Titles + Thumbnails = Clicks


Even great videos fail if no one clicks. 

✅ Good title: 

  • “5 Essay Mistakes That Cost Students High Grades”


✅ Thumbnail: 

  • Clear face or emotion


  • 2–4 words max


  • High contrast


👉 Think: Curiosity + Clarity 



📅 6. Be Consistent (But Smart)


You don’t need daily uploads. 

✅ Better: 

  • 1–2 quality videos per week


  • Consistent topic/theme


Consistency builds trust with the algorithm and your audience. 



📊 7. Learn From Your Analytics


After posting, check: 

  • CTR (Click-through rate) → Title/thumbnail effectiveness


  • Watch time → Engagement quality


  • Audience retention → Where people drop off


👉 Double down on what works, cut what doesn’t. 



🧩 8. Focus on Search + Suggestions


Two ways to grow: 

🔍 Search-based content


  • “How to write an essay”


  • “Comma rules explained”


🔥 Suggested content (viral potential)


  • “Why students hate writing (and what to do)”


👉 Start with search. Expand into broader topics later. 



👥 9. Build a Relationship, Not Just Views


Talk to your audience, not at them. 

  • Ask questions


  • Reply to comments


  • Build a recognizable style/personality




🚀 10. Be Patient (Growth Takes Time)


Most channels: 

  • Struggle for months


  • Suddenly grow after a few good videos


👉 Success often comes from 1–2 breakout videos, not slow steady growth. 



⚡ Simple Starter Plan


If you started this week: 

Week 1–2: 

  • Pick niche


  • Upload 3–5 videos


Week 3–6: 

  • Study analytics


  • Improve thumbnails/titles


Month 2+: 

  • Double down on what works


  • Experiment with bigger ideas




🔑 The Reality


Success on YouTube =
Consistency + Improvement + Understanding viewers 

Not: ❌ Luck
❌ Fancy equipment
❌ Viral hacks 



If you want, I can map out a YouTube channel idea specifically tailored to you (based on your English background) with actual video topics and titles you can start posting immediately.