Comments on: Four Chords http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:24:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: David Martin http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16185 David Martin Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:32:41 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16185 <p>I tend to find songs that just repeat the same chord progression (however many chords there are through the whole thing) to be rather boring unless there’s a good amount of musical variance, rising and falling, that sort of thing, going on while the chords repeat. Sufjan Stevens is actually a good example of that - well, most of the time. Sometimes he’s just tiresomely repetitive, but for the most part, I find myself fascinated by all of the busy layers in his music. Trying to play some of his songs on solo acoustic guitar, even if I can play the chords and sing the words along to the same melody, just sucks all of the life out of them. I guess he made a lot out of a little. </p> <p> But I like elaborate chord progressions that change up for the chorus and the bridge and whatever other parts of a song are present, too, as long as they’re not too overly contrived. I get really tired of bands that stick to the same old G, C, D, and E minor (or modulated to whatever key they’re in). Especially so if they’re worship bands. Which reminds me of a parody song I wrote once: </p> <p> <i>Open E on my guitar, Lord <br /> Open E on my guitar <br /> That’s all I know how to do <br /> That’s all I know how to do <br /> Open E on my guitar, Lord <br /> Open E on my guitar <br /> That’s all I know how to do <br /> That’s all I know how to do </p> <p> One day I’ll learn a few more chords <br /> Then leading worship won’t be so boring <br /> ‘Til then, I’ll feign emotion <br /> By singing slowly, slowly, slowly </p> <p> Slowly, slowly, slowly <br /> Slowly, slowly, slowly <br /> Slowly, slowly, slowly <br /> That’s all I know how to do</i> </p> <p> Just sing that over and over again until you’re blue in the face, and you’ll get the idea. </p> I tend to find songs that just repeat the same chord progression (however many chords there are through the whole thing) to be rather boring unless there’s a good amount of musical variance, rising and falling, that sort of thing, going on while the chords repeat. Sufjan Stevens is actually a good example of that – well, most of the time. Sometimes he’s just tiresomely repetitive, but for the most part, I find myself fascinated by all of the busy layers in his music. Trying to play some of his songs on solo acoustic guitar, even if I can play the chords and sing the words along to the same melody, just sucks all of the life out of them. I guess he made a lot out of a little.

But I like elaborate chord progressions that change up for the chorus and the bridge and whatever other parts of a song are present, too, as long as they’re not too overly contrived. I get really tired of bands that stick to the same old G, C, D, and E minor (or modulated to whatever key they’re in). Especially so if they’re worship bands. Which reminds me of a parody song I wrote once:

Open E on my guitar, Lord

Open E on my guitar

That’s all I know how to do

That’s all I know how to do

Open E on my guitar, Lord

Open E on my guitar

That’s all I know how to do

That’s all I know how to do

One day I’ll learn a few more chords

Then leading worship won’t be so boring

‘Til then, I’ll feign emotion

By singing slowly, slowly, slowly

Slowly, slowly, slowly

Slowly, slowly, slowly

Slowly, slowly, slowly

That’s all I know how to do

Just sing that over and over again until you’re blue in the face, and you’ll get the idea.

]]> By: euphrony http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16184 euphrony Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:31:56 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16184 <p>I would agree that it is more the lyrics, voices, and harmony that carries the song.  Those four chords are soil they are planted in: always present, but never changing. </p> I would agree that it is more the lyrics, voices, and harmony that carries the song.  Those four chords are soil they are planted in: always present, but never changing.

]]> By: john http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16183 john Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:49:21 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16183 <p>You know what they say - “less is more”.  </p> <p> Are you really pining for the good old days of songs like “Sing Your Praise To The Lord” (Rich Mullins)?  I’ve been playing music for going on 20 years, and I don’t know if I could follow that song without a chart in front of me. </p> You know what they say – “less is more”. 

Are you really pining for the good old days of songs like “Sing Your Praise To The Lord” (Rich Mullins)?  I’ve been playing music for going on 20 years, and I don’t know if I could follow that song without a chart in front of me.

]]> By: Brody Harper http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16182 Brody Harper Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:43:15 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2007/02/four-chords/#comment-16182 <p>I think that’s where a strong melody comes in, along with some good story telling.  Then it doesn’t really matter what you are playing. </p> I think that’s where a strong melody comes in, along with some good story telling.  Then it doesn’t really matter what you are playing.

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