Did you ever wonder why the same 4 chords keep returning in about every new hit out there?

This may not be the best post of the year but it's got to be close. I loved it. I sort of knew that because most of what I hear on the radio and tv sounds like a light fog that you don't really notice. So I guess this is why. Great video. BTW, better take notice, Dave (Rice), if you want to make some money .

chas

At least they stretched it one further than Harlan Howard's recipe for Country songs, contained in this old quote " All you need to write a country song is three chords and the truth”.


The late Lou Reed once said, “One chord is fine, two chords is pushing it, three chords and you’re into jazz”. Kind of funny...Lou Reed himself was the writer of many intricate musical creations.

Very interesting video, Bachus...thank you.

Ian

It was no different back in the fifties/early sixties, and even on occasion since then. The famous 'four-chord trick', C Am F G. And if a writer was really ambitious the F would be replaced with Dm.


Jeez, everybody knows this, but why aren't we all rich?

Yes, in my mind F is related to Dm. The C Am Dm G sequence has been used for decades with tunes like Heart and Soul, Blue Moon going back to the 30's and used as a vamp, intro, etc. And it is the basic turnaround. Nothing new at all IMHO

Common “ formulas” are nothing new in pop music. So many tunes from the 30’s and 40’s use “rhythm changes”. What about all those 12/8 slow rock tunes from the 50’s with I vi IV V ? I wonder how many songs are based on the simple I IV V blues changes? And Every jazzer must navigate all those ii V I changes.

And how about the famous I V vi IV as shown in this video?!? I call it the "Don't Stop Believing" progression.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ

As I was taught in the late 50's, this is the "Sears and Roebuck " bridge.. 1, 6, 2, 5. All accordion players are taught this as the natural bass lay out (circle of fifths).

And in concert...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I

Enjoy!
Jørgen

Thanks Jorgen, That was great.

Jorgen, thank you so very, very much - that was absolutely awesome!

Gary