I'm writing this to see if I can articulate something that I've used in a number of compositions...Not sure if it will come across, but I wanted to try to "say" it.
Also wouldn't be surprised if it's not that interesting to anyone else but me.
Somehow I came across the idea that, in 4/4 time, you could get the listener off-guard and a bit confused if you used a 3-chord sequence repeatedly, one chord on each beat. The way I did it was:
C/Bb/F/C
Bb/F/C/Bb
F/C/Bb/F
C/Bb/F/C
..That would comprise 4 bars, then just keep repeating. You can see that the emphasis naturally falls on different chords in each bar. My idea was that at first the listener would hear the 3-chord sequence and get their ears ready for a 3/4 pattern, but then, as the rhythm kicked in, they would realize that--wait a minute!--it isn't 3/4 at all--what is it?
Here is a very short example.
20-Sec Snip Now, I don't know for sure if this has ever been used this way--but I'm not aware of any examples--so I'm claiming credit for an "invention"!
I've used this idea in at least 4 different songs, varying either the tempo or the context.
I've come to call it "3 over 4".
not really looking for any feedback, just wanted to say this.