Members Magpel Posted May 2, 2008 Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 I think the phrase "three chords and the truth" has been around for a while. A cursory google suggests that it has asscociations with U2, Hank Williams, and a modern country artists named Sara Evans (who doesn't look very truth to me;) It certainly sounds like it describes the blues... I always thought it was associated with The Clash as well. Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Magpel Posted May 2, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 Ah, a little more-than-cursory look suggests that it was first used to describe the songs of Hank Williams. Ok. Got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members spokenward Posted May 2, 2008 Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 Some people attribute it to Harlan Howard. Somebody pointed out that Hank sometimes used only 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jimbroni Posted May 2, 2008 Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 GCD and The Gospel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rasputin1963 Posted May 2, 2008 Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 I remember Dolly Parton using this phrase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members area51recording Posted May 2, 2008 Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 Pretty sure it wasn't Monk.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members coyote-1 Posted May 2, 2008 Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 I dunno.... somehow when I think of the music of the spheres, it ain't George Thorogood or any other 3-chord wonder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Magpel Posted May 2, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 I dunno.... somehow when I think of the music of the spheres, it ain't George Thorogood or any other 3-chord wonder. ??? I hope my question wasn't construed as aesthetic preference...I was looking to allude to this famous phrase in the lyric of a song with far more than three chords, and some nifty secondary dominants and modulations.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Raymar Posted May 2, 2008 Members Share Posted May 2, 2008 Probably from the blues. The 12-bar blues progression only has three chords, and the truth is often a description of the blues as in "hard truth". Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members coyote-1 Posted May 4, 2008 Members Share Posted May 4, 2008 I didn't take it as your preference. But I decided to comment on the 'truth' of the phrase anyway ??? I hope my question wasn't construed as aesthetic preference...I was looking to allude to this famous phrase in the lyric of a song with far more than three chords, and some nifty secondary dominants and modulations.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted May 5, 2008 Members Share Posted May 5, 2008 First time I heard it was in a U2 song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted May 7, 2008 Members Share Posted May 7, 2008 Music appreciation and Theory were things I can trace back in my High School Daze. Alot of your 3 chord stuff came from Ireland and England. They were the earley setlers in the US. If you read up on earley folk music you'll find the roots to most modern music come from our earley culture influx and mixing of cultures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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