KVR Audio

superddman · Post by **superddman** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:00 pm

Can a song be made up of only chords? Can somebody provide some examples?

For instance, is it a good idea using chords for bass and for leads at the same time?

superddman · Post by **superddman** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:00 am

Is it common to have different chords playing at the same time?

ckatrun411 · Post by **ckatrun411** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:07 am

Music is four parts: Rhythm, Tempo, Melody and Harmony. Anything with, "only chords," is still going to have Rhythm and Tempo.

Anything from just about any genre you can think of, will have some melody in there somewhere.

superddman · Post by **superddman** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:32 am

I think I've been playing around with music too much and single notes just sound too thin to me. Does anyone feel the same?

So there are no popular songs that have only chords?

synthgeek · Post by **synthgeek** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:39 am

If it sounds good, do it.

ZombyWoof · Post by **ZombyWoof** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:44 am

John Cage's 4'33 was composed entirely using Ab min, although the chord inversions were only played mentally.

ckatrun411 · Post by **ckatrun411** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:05 am

superddman wrote:I think I've been playing around with music too much and single notes just sound too thin to me.

Use more instruments? In a classical orchestra would it not be common to have several instruments play the same part? I guess on our DAWs, we can layer several synths to play the same part.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

So there are no popular songs that have only chords?

Melody is an integral part of music.

ZombyWoof wrote:John Cage's 4'33 was composed entirely using Ab min, although the chord inversions were only played mentally.

I think the world has falsely given credit of musicality, to something that is actually a moment of silence. Obviously, that makes perfect sense in our world of madness. The human race and all, being explicitly insane.

superddman · Post by **superddman** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:05 pm

That song by John Cage is great but does anybody have any "audible" examples that they can share?

yellowfever · Post by **yellowfever** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:37 pm

superddman wrote:I think I've been playing around with music too much and single notes just sound too thin to me. Does anyone feel the same?

No. If you think single notes sound too thin, you're doing something wrong. Put some drum samples in a song; they aint chords! I think you need a lie down my friend

MaxSynths · Post by **MaxSynths** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:45 pm

Don't sure what you are talking about, anyway: Imagine by John Lennon it's only bump-bump chords (minus the ta-da-da after the F).

Or are you saying just a chords progression and nothing more? Just do it and then go to your friends and say them you want to make them listen to your new song, then look their reaction (:smack:)

A.M. Gold · Post by **A.M. Gold** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:48 pm

yellowfever wrote:I think you need a lie down my friend

Huh?

To answer the OP, any chord progression that has a sense of movement is, in a sense, melodic. I was just hearing Learning to Fly by (Gilmour) Pink Floyd the other day and the intro really has no melody, just guitar chords, bass, drums, and some noodly synth stuff in the background, and it certainly sounds like music, even before he starts singing.

I've been doing some stuff recently without a lead melody---just drums, keys chords, and a very active and fairly melodic bass line, and it sounds pretty good already. I may not try to add a high melody to some of these pieces.

MaxSynths · Post by **MaxSynths** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:51 pm

superddman wrote:For instance, is it a good idea using chords for bass and for leads at the same time?

Not at all. One of the fundament of symphonic composition (but it is valid to any other genre) is that the instruments in the bass range must play chords with large intervals. As you go on to the highest pitch the best sounding range of the intervals became more tight. In symphonic context there are a lot of thing going on... on popular songs it is best to keep the things as simple as possible (for example avoid chords on bass notes...).

yellowfever · Post by **yellowfever** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:53 pm

A.M. Gold wrote:
yellowfever wrote:I think you need a lie down my friend
Huh?

To answer the OP, any chord progression that has a sense of movement is, in a sense, melodic. I was just hearing Learning to Fly by (Gilmour) Pink Floyd the other day and the intro really has no melody, just guitar chords, bass, drums, and some noodly synth stuff in the background, and it certainly sounds like music, even before he starts singing.

I've been doing some stuff recently without a lead melody---just drums, keys chords, and a very active and fairly melodic bass line, and it sounds pretty good already. I may not try to add a high melody to some of these pieces.

Waddaumean huh?! So a song is only chords if it also has a melodic bass line and drums!!!?? Have a lay down

tranel · Post by **tranel** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:06 am

Usually you do chords in the upper registers, while leaving the bass playing either single notes or so-called power chord (consisting of only the bass note and the fifth, for example).

It is easy to end up with a muddy arrangement if you play too-complex chords in the bass (that said, the bass line doesn't have to be simple just because you're not using chords. Listen to Stevie Wonder's Boogie on Reggae Woman or any Herbie Hancock song to see what I mean).

Chords progressions can amount to a melody, no problem. The melody doesn't have to come from a lead line played with single notes, but single notes can often help to accent the overall melodic flow.

So, no I can't think of any songs that use only chords in both bass and upper registers. But plenty of music uses advanced chord progressions. IMHO if electronic musicians used more chords / advanced chord progressions in their music, the whole universe of electronic music would be much more interesting and listenable, so your ambition is highly commendable. Good luck!

If you want a good introduction to chords and music theory, go to pianoclues.com (sorry, maybe you know the theory already, but just in case you don't, it's a good place to start!).

Regards,

T

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:27 am

I'm not sure what you mean by "only chords" but MLK by U2 from The unforgettable fire could fit the bill.

Song made up of only chords ?