Q
What makes the 1-4-5 sound so universal?
Jason's answer: because the 4 and 5 are the two closest relationships to the 1 in the key. The 5 pulls toward the 1 (dominant resolution), the 4 pushes away from it (subdominant movement). You get departure and arrival in three chords. Every genre from blues to folk to rock is built on that tension.
From Jason's actual lessons