Post your favorite 2-chord verses and choruses - or other interesting songwriting formulas - 03/21/20 08:57 AM
Hi all - hope everybody is doing well during this crisis...musicians have an unfair advantage when it comes to keeping themselves engaged inside the house...good for us !!!
I've been slowly learning my favorite 3 songs from all my favorite groups. I'm a big pop music and rock fan. I've just learned a couple of America songs, and am surprised and amazed at how much mileage they can get out of 2 chords. Yes, I know there are a few 1-chord songs, and a LOT of 3 and 4 chords songs, but I had not come across many 2-chord songs. Now when I say songs built on 2 chords, I separate the verse and chorus, so the majority of the whole song might have 4 chords in all.
I know we have quite a few songwriters on this forum - so this may be less of a 'revelation' to you. But perhaps you have noticed other song forumulas or patterns that struck you as "wow...look what they created off this idea". Share those too : )
So here are my favorite America songs that have 2-chord verses or 2-chord choruses.
1.) Horse with No Name - still love this one, even though it's overplayed. This one actually uses 2 chords for the WHOLE song - Em - F#m7 add 11
2.) Ventura Highway verse and chorus G6-->Dmaj7
Bridge Em --> F#m
3.) Amber Cascades verse Amaj7 -->Dmaj7
Bridge F --> G
4.) Tin Man chorus - Gmaj7 - Cmaj7
I've been slowly learning my favorite 3 songs from all my favorite groups. I'm a big pop music and rock fan. I've just learned a couple of America songs, and am surprised and amazed at how much mileage they can get out of 2 chords. Yes, I know there are a few 1-chord songs, and a LOT of 3 and 4 chords songs, but I had not come across many 2-chord songs. Now when I say songs built on 2 chords, I separate the verse and chorus, so the majority of the whole song might have 4 chords in all.
I know we have quite a few songwriters on this forum - so this may be less of a 'revelation' to you. But perhaps you have noticed other song forumulas or patterns that struck you as "wow...look what they created off this idea". Share those too : )
So here are my favorite America songs that have 2-chord verses or 2-chord choruses.
1.) Horse with No Name - still love this one, even though it's overplayed. This one actually uses 2 chords for the WHOLE song - Em - F#m7 add 11
2.) Ventura Highway verse and chorus G6-->Dmaj7
Bridge Em --> F#m
3.) Amber Cascades verse Amaj7 -->Dmaj7
Bridge F --> G
4.) Tin Man chorus - Gmaj7 - Cmaj7