Tender Ballad

Why it sounds this way

Tender Ballad is a sad chord progression that moves Imaj7 – Vmaj7 – vi7 – IVmaj7 (Cmaj7 Gmaj7 Am7 Fmaj7 in C). The feeling walks home · glow → tension · glow → longing · mellow → open · glow. The extra quality words (glow, mellow) are why the colors soften or spark: sevenths and sus chords never quite say the feeling in a straight line. That matches a small tip for this mood: minor chords lean on blue. That is why it fits a scene like “handwriting a long letter.” Play it on piano or guitar above, and switch keys if you want it higher or lower.