Finding the Theory Signal in the 2025 Pop Noise
It is easy to dismiss the Billboard charts as a collection of computer-generated loops and trite lyrics, especially if your ears are tuned to the complex textures of classic rock or jazz. However, Desi Cerna’s recent breakdown of the year's biggest hits on the Guitar Music Theory podcast serves as a necessary reminder that pop music is often a goldmine for practical theory. By bringing his thirteen-year-old daughter, Lila, into the studio for episode 181, Cerna manages to bridge the gap between the "guitar engineer" mindset and the modern listener's perspective.
The Theory Hidden in the Top 40
The core of the episode centers on the idea that pop songs are simple on the surface but built on robust musical foundations. Desi analyzes several tracks from 2025, revealing that what sounds like a basic radio hook is often a sophisticated use of modes and inversions.
For example, in Taylor Swift’s Fate of Ophelia, Cerna identifies a G Dorian movement that shifts into a standard diatonic key of F. For the average hobbyist, these are the exact types of shifts that make a song feel "inevitable" rather than boring. He also dives into Olivia Dean’s Man I Need, pointing out the use of first inversions where the bass note connects the chords to create a smoother, more sophisticated melodic flow.
Key Takeaways for Your Practice:
- Ear Training via Pop: Use the repetitive nature of pop choruses to identify common progressions like the 1-5-6-4 or the 4-1-5-6.
- Inversion Awareness: Notice how a song like Man I Need uses the third of the chord in the bass to provide a different "flavor" to a standard progression.
- Genre-Bending Jams: Desi demonstrates how a K-pop track like Jump by Blackpink can be transformed into a minor-key rock jam by emphasizing the flat-six and major-four chord movements.
A Generational Bridge
The highlight of the episode isn't just the musicology; it is the dynamic between Desi and Lila. While Desi is busy dissecting the "popcorn picking" rhythm and harmonic layers, Lila provides the cultural context that gives these songs weight. There is a charming irony in hearing that a thirteen-year-old has a "listening age" of sixty on Spotify, favoring Fleetwood Mac and Michael Jackson, yet still remains the target demographic for artists like Sabrina Carpenter.
Desi’s analysis of Sabrina Carpenter’s Man Child is particularly insightful. Despite his "old fogey" reservations about modern lyrical choices, he admits the music is exceptionally well-produced. He pulls the track apart to show listeners the interplay between the bass and lead guitar, proving that even in a world of computer-generated beats, the fundamentals of "guitar engineering" are still very much alive.
The Golden Nugget: "We don't treat music theory as an academic exercise. We treat it as a practical tool, something you can hear, feel, and immediately apply to your playing."
Why This Matters for Guitarists
If you find yourself "spinning your wheels" or stuck in the same blues box, the solution might actually be on the pop charts. This episode encourages players to stop guessing and start looking for the patterns in everything they hear. Whether it is the Scooby-Doo-esque energy of Rosé’s APT or the Nashville-style storytelling of Alex Warren, there is a lesson in every track if you are willing to look for the signal.
Cerna’s approach reminds us that a great player doesn't just master the fretboard; they master the ability to listen. By stripping away the polish of a pop production, you can find the raw chord movements that have powered music for decades. It turns out the hits of 2025 aren't as far removed from the classics as we might think.