Quote:

Yes, chord progressions usually are not copyrighted.

But there are some progressions, like Matt pointed out, that are dangerous to use in this perspective: Just say that the opening riff of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple is not copyrighted and you might be wrong -- even if it is just a couple of power chords.




BUT the opening rift in “Smoke on the Water” is a lead line with a harmony. Thus it is copyrighted.

Ps – a so-called power chord is a note with a harmony i.e. the tonic and the fifth usually. A chord consists of three or more notes.


Walmart had to remove 50,000 milk cartons from their store.
The labels have to be changed from "open here" to "open at home"

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware