Members Zeopold Posted August 21, 2005 Members Share Posted August 21, 2005 The vocals and dynamics define a change, but it's the same 4 chords over and over... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LDF Posted August 22, 2005 Members Share Posted August 22, 2005 If it works, it works. But I would at least try for some embellishments and maybe a bridge somewhere.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Aaron Cheney Posted August 22, 2005 Members Share Posted August 22, 2005 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love by Van Halen got by with only three chords through the entire song (Am, G, C). I think you need to go back to the drawing board and trim a little fat.... A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ratthedd Posted August 22, 2005 Members Share Posted August 22, 2005 ...and Tomorrow Never Knows by the Beatles got by with one chord for the whole song. Go figure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cldplytkmn Posted August 23, 2005 Members Share Posted August 23, 2005 wallflowers... nuff said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zeopold Posted August 23, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 23, 2005 Originally posted by ratthedd ...and Tomorrow Never Knows by the Beatles got by with one chord for the whole song. Go figure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edge100 Posted August 23, 2005 Members Share Posted August 23, 2005 Originally posted by Zeopold The vocals and dynamics define a change, but it's the same 4 chords over and over... You just described With or Without You by U2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members corngoodness Posted August 23, 2005 Members Share Posted August 23, 2005 Originally posted by Aaron Cheney Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love by Van Halen got by with only three chords through the entire song (Am, G, C). I think you need to go back to the drawing board and trim a little fat....A There's a little more to it than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsongs Posted August 23, 2005 Members Share Posted August 23, 2005 Don't worry, James Brown made a career out of songs with just ONE chord (two if you include the bridge) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kikintyres Posted August 23, 2005 Members Share Posted August 23, 2005 ALOT of songs are like that, i just learned So Lonely by The Police, 4 chords throughout, I also just started playing Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison, Same chords for the verse and chorus. If it sounds good, who cares, most people who listen could care less if it has 2 chords or 817. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitar_played Posted August 25, 2005 Members Share Posted August 25, 2005 That's something i've tried to avoid, but sometimes it works and when it does there's no reason to change it, although i like to work in lead figures and countermelodies into a song that has a simpler chord progression Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheBoatCanDream Posted August 26, 2005 Members Share Posted August 26, 2005 All must listen to "diane" by husker du... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tdempsey Posted August 31, 2005 Members Share Posted August 31, 2005 works for "Little Wing", too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members snoopmt1 Posted September 1, 2005 Members Share Posted September 1, 2005 To sum up everyone's individual examples, think about how you listen to music. You're primarily concerned with melody, lyrics, and a nice groove. You don't really notice harmony until someone puts in a color chord. If you're playing the song and it feels really repetitive, it might just need a change in texture (add a guitar, remove a guitar, add a riff to the second verse) and that will be enough to break things up. Think about the difference between an original that sounds sweet and the cover of it that sucks. Same chords, different texture, groove, feel, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theflyingeyebal Posted September 11, 2005 Members Share Posted September 11, 2005 Originally posted by tdempsey works for "Little Wing", too Not to be picky, but there's about 10 chords in that song, and no chorus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Godot Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 AC/DC built an entire career on three chords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bruther_Bill72 Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Blues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orourke Posted September 17, 2005 Members Share Posted September 17, 2005 Here's a few more examples of great tunes with few chords: Gimme' Shelter - The Stones - 3 chords over and overChain of Fools - Aretha Fraklin - 1 chordFairies Where Boots - Black Sabbath (just a couple of great riffs that amount to about 3 chords It not the amount of chords, it what you do with them. If your going to write a simple tune it should have a interesting melody that really goes somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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