I’ll keep this short: music theory is far from a mental ascent; the rules of music theory drive every piece of music we listen to and write (even if we don’t realize it). So whether you are a music educator or a performing musician looking for practical examples of applied theory, I hope this page can be a resource to you! Use the table of contents for easy navigation

Songs in Common Time Signatures

Songs in 4/4 Time

4/4 time is the most common time signature in popular music. Musicians can practice feeling four steady beats per measure and identifying strong and weak beats.

Songs in 4/4 time Student Highlight: Shake it Off by Taylor Swift

More Songs in 4/4 time (with links)

• Let It Be by The Beatles
• Rolling in the Deep by Adele
• Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Someone Like You by Adele
• Firework by Katy Perry

Songs in 3/4 Time

3/4 time creates the classic “waltz” feel with three beats per measure.

Songs in 3/4 time Student Highlight: Piano Man by Billy Joel

*Important note on Piano Man: a strong case can be made for counting this song in 12/8, but for the purposes of a beginner music theory student, 3/4 is sufficient.

More Songs in 3/4 time (with links)

• My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music
• Que Sera, Sera by Doris Day
• Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page
• Once Upon a December from Anastasia

Worship Songs in 3/4 time (with links)

Worship songs in 4/4 time and 6/8 time are a dime a dozen. Since 3/4 is a less common time signature in worship music, here are a few examples to draw from:

• In Christ Alone by the Gettys
• One and Only by Rend Collective
• How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
• Come Thou Fount
• I will Wait for You by Shane & Shane

Songs in 6/8 Time

6/8 time features compound subdivision and a flowing, lilting feel.

Songs in 6/8 time Student Highlight: We are the Champions by Queen

More Songs in 6/8 Time

• Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
• House of the Rising Sun by The Animals
• Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
• Kiss from a Rose by Seal
• Fallin’ by Alicia Keys
• Perfect by Ed Sheeran
• Agony from Into the Woods

Songs in 2/4 Time

2/4 time is commonly associated with marches and strong duple meter. The key difference between 2/4 and 4/4 is typically phrase length, with strong emphases on the downbeat, which is every other beat in 2/4 time. Since it is such a specific feel, there are not many songs written fully in 2/4 time, but you will find a measure or two in songs with other meters to create interest (then you start getting into mixed meters). Below are a few songs that are fully in 2/4 time.

Songs in 2/4 time Student Highlight: The Washington Post March by Souza

• Notre Dame Victory March
• Castle on a Cloud from Les Miserables
• Rondo alla Turka by Mozart

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Songs with Pickups (Anacruses)

Pickup notes occur before the first full measure of music and help students learn to feel meter before beat one.

Songs with Pickups Student Highlight: the Star Spangled Banner

• Happy Birthday to You
• My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
• Lean on Me by Bill Withers – vocal line pickup to the chorus.
• Take me Home, Country Roads by John Denver – vocal line pickup to the chorus.

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Songs with Syncopation

These examples help students identify off-beat accents and syncopated rhythms.

Songs with Syncopation Student Highlight: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

More Songs with Syncopation

• Respect by Aretha Franklin
• Shape of You by Ed Sheeran – syncopated accompaniment
• I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin
• Seasons of Love from Rent
• You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray

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3-Chord Songs

Classic 3-chord Songs

3-Chord Songs Student Highlight: Twist and Shout by The Beatles

These songs primarily use the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords, making them ideal for beginners.

• La Bamba by Ritchie Valens
• Wild Thing by The Troggs
• Louie Louie by The Kingsmen
• Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
• Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
• Dance the Night Away by The Mavericks
• A Horse With No Name by America
• Billy Jean by Michael Jackson

3-Chord Worship Songs

Most modern worship songs will contain 4 (or more) chords. There are some, however that can be reduced to 3 chords by playing a I chord in place of the vi (making them just I – IV – V songs):

• Amazing Grace
• Here I am to Worship
• God I look to you
• We Fall Down
• Amazing Love

I do want to encourage you, if you’re here looking for 3-chord worship songs: learn that minor 6 chord. Once you are comfortable with all 4, the vast majority of the worship music catalogue opens up!

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This page is intended to be a library available for musicians and private music teachers to learn and/or teach specific musical concepts. Have a category you want added, or have a favorite example songs for one of these categories? Leave a comment and I’ll add it!