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A light bulb went on in my head today. No doubt most of you maestros already know this but I thought I would share for the less experienced... For most songs these days - you only actually need to know 4, yes FOUR, chords, no matter what the key. In fact it is even easier for guitarists as the capo allows you to use the same 4 chords in any key.  I - V(7) - vi - IV. For example: G - D(7) - Em - C... 36 hit songs with the same 4 chords and the same progression
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Some songs are based on one or two chords, but the musical interest is created on what is going on inside the chordal structure. The same song can be played with 3 chords or 13 chords or as Frank Zappa said, "It's all one big note."
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Hi Sam, This subject came up not long ago: http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=287862&page=0&vc=1A couple of thoughts: - I find, listening to many big selling pop albums of the day (Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars...), it is not unusual for 2 or 3 songs to be built around this structure. - are there any recorded instances of songs earlier than Let it Be following this pattern. If not, then it could be that Paul McCartney's reputation should be even greater than it already is. Marc
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I know nothing of theory but I'll put in my $.02.
ALL pop/country/rock songs are really structured around a 1-4-5 progression.Assuming use of diatonic scale. The variance comes in the use of the 2-3-6-7.
The 2m is just a substitute for the 4
The 3m is just a substitute for the 5
The 6m is just a substitute for the 1
The 7dim is just a transition chord.
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Quote:
ALL pop/country/rock songs are really structured around a 1-4-5 progression
Add blues, bluegrass, folk, etc. to that list. It's what our ears expect to hear. When these genres stray too far from that formula, it may sound strange to our ears.
Sometimes that can be good or "surprising". Sometimes not. In reality, it would be difficult if not impossible to come up with a truly unique progression, or at least one that would be pleasing to the listener.
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Quote:
Quote:
ALL pop/country/rock songs are really structured around a 1-4-5 progression
Add blues, bluegrass, folk, etc. to that list. It's what our ears expect to hear. When these genres stray too far from that formula, it may sound strange to our ears.
Sometimes that can be good or "surprising". Sometimes not. In reality, it would be difficult if not impossible to come up with a truly unique progression, or at least one that would be pleasing to the listener.
Agreed. I forgot the "etc" in my post.
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Quote:
I know nothing of theory but I'll put in my $.02.
ALL pop/country/rock songs are really structured around a 1-4-5 progression.Assuming use of diatonic scale. The variance comes in the use of the 2-3-6-7.
The 2m is just a substitute for the 4
The 3m is just a substitute for the 5
The 6m is just a substitute for the 1
The 7dim is just a transition chord.
Yes, but it is knowing/feeling when to play each one, with what feeling/style and for how many beats. 
Later,
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Quote:
Quote:
I know nothing of theory but I'll put in my $.02.
ALL pop/country/rock songs are really structured around a 1-4-5 progression.Assuming use of diatonic scale. The variance comes in the use of the 2-3-6-7.
The 2m is just a substitute for the 4
The 3m is just a substitute for the 5
The 6m is just a substitute for the 1
The 7dim is just a transition chord.
Yes, but it is knowing/feeling when to play each one, with what feeling/style and for how many beats.
Later,
Along those lines, I once had a teacher explain to me that it was not so much what you play but when you played it! More about the silence in between the notes then the notes themselves that made the magic in music.
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I bet you could put pen to paper and write one now that you know the 4 chords  There is a comedian band on YouTube that covers this. I forgot their name, but I believe they come up under "4 chord song" search there. They were very funny. Trax
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Journeyman
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Sam, have a listen to the you tube below by the Axis of Awesome they give one of the best preformances on this subject. The link looks strange but it works, http://youtu.be/5pidokakU4IDennis
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More songs are probably built around these chords than the ones that have been mentioned: I - VI - IV (IIm7) - V Later, Ray
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Just finished a song right now. It had to be uplifting and it had to be simple and I had to produce it very quick; two days! (it usually takes me months to write and record a song) . Came up with a simple blues and used BiaB to do all the playing. I sang all parts and used a cheesy setting from my VoiceLive 2. Why do I tell this? Oh yes..... I used only three (very simple!) chords. At first wrote it in the key of F, but decided G suited my voice better. Thank you Peter Gannon for letting me transpose at the touch of a key I will upload the song to my site so you can hear the song should you wish. I'll post it in a new thread.
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Well done, Mike. His Bobness is well knownfor his early 3 chord songs.
Dennis, somebody pointed that outto me on FaceBook, which is when the light came on!
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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I first became aware of this watching the musical 'Grease'. One of the characters wanted to play R&R guitar and found out he had to learn only four chords: C, Am, F, G7. Here is the song he sang and based it on his mastery of those chords... Those Magic Changes I actually love the song. Those chords are essential but it's all about the melody! R
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Quote:
I first became aware of this watching the musical 'Grease'. One of the characters wanted to play R&R guitar and found out he had to learn only four chords: C, Am, F, G7. Here is the song he sang and based it on his mastery of those chords...
Those Magic Changes
I actually love the song. Those chords are essential but it's all about the melody!
R
Boy oh boy, live and learn. I never put together the song title along with the reference to the "chord" changes, which is made in this tune.
Very cool. And yes, then it is all about the melody.
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Quote:
"Look what Beethoven did with twelve notes. Look at what Elvis did with two." -Zig Ziglar
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Look at what Hank Williams Sr. did with two chords: JAMBALYA
That to me is awesome to be able to do that.
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Sonofagun! I just listened to Paul Simon's new album, and by my count, of ten songs, they ALL have (pretty much) only one chord each, except one song. What's up, Paul... is that what they mean by "Simonizing"? 
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Quote:
he had to learn only four chords: C, Am, F, G7
Years ago, that was known as "a cantor change".
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On the 19th of May, Marc wrote:
"- are there any recorded instances of songs earlier than Let it Be following this pattern. If not, then it could be that Paul McCartney's reputation should be even greater than it already is.
Marc"
*****************
If I'm not mistaken (I'm at work so no guitar to try this on), the Everly Brothers ballad Dream Dream Dream had the same chord progression.
Googling shows "Let It Be" published in 1970 and "Dream Dream Dream" in 1958.
I'm guessing that there are earlier songs though, that use this chord pattern.
LLOYD S
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In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
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