The Skeleton of a Song: Roman Numerals and the Universal Grammar of Harmony episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 6, 2026 · 5 MIN

The Skeleton of a Song: Roman Numerals and the Universal Grammar of Harmony

from Intellectually Curious · host Mike Breault

We dive into Roman numeral analysis—the universal translator for harmony. From I–IV–V and inversions to borrowed chords and modal interchange, learn how the same structural skeleton underpins Bach, the Beatles, and modern pop. Discover why V resolves to I as emotional gravity, how transposing becomes effortless when you think in numbers, and how this timeless grammar reveals the hidden physics of music. A practical guide to listening, composing, and playing with a surprisingly universal language.Note:  This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes.  Please double-check any critical information.Sponsored by Embersilk LLC

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 6, 2026

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We dive into Roman numeral analysis—the universal translator for harmony. From I–IV–V and inversions to borrowed chords and modal interchange, learn how the same structural skeleton underpins Bach, the Beatles, and modern pop. Discover why V resolves to I as emotional gravity, how transposing becomes effortless when you think in numbers, and how this timeless grammar reveals the hidden physics of music. A practical guide to listening, composing, and playing with a surprisingly universal langu...

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The Skeleton of a Song: Roman Numerals and the Universal Grammar of Harmony

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