Figuring Out Chords

[Branst]

Whenever a melody pops into my head and want to use it, I usually have a really hard time figuring out chords to go along with it. I try to figure out the melody on a keyboard note by note and go from there but sometimes I can't even do that.

Is there anything that could help me? Does anyone else have this problem?

[Stupid American Pig]

get a chord chart and work your way down the list . However the best way IMHO, is to learn what key you are writing in, and then learn the notes/chords available in that key. it takes some time at first, but it is sooooo worth it

[Manc Chris]

get a chord chart and work your way down the list . However the best way IMHO, is to learn what key you are writing in, and then learn the notes/chords available in that key. it takes some time at first, but it is sooooo worth it

Nah ... forget chord charts and that restricting malarkey. Just do this ....

1) hum the line.

2) Find the exact notes on your guitar/keyboard

3) Find another note that harmonises or more specifically that YOU feel harmonises.

4) Then find another one ...or two.

5) Play them all together.

Hey presto, a chord, who gives a toss what its called ... its a chord.

Don't be limited by convention

[Stupid American Pig]

but all that is is a hard way to find chords that have already been written down for you. not to mention that when I look at a chord chart that shows me aug, sus, 6th , 9th, 11th, or 13th chords, etc. I get exposed to new things that I would have never been able to find by humming along.

Its only restrictive if you let it restrict you. Ive pulled myself out of a huge slump by doing this- and have written more consistantly good songs in the last 6 months than ever. really, even if you use just 3 major chords, if you still keep tabs on your production, there is no reason you cant write a good song.

[Meffy]

Everyone has their own way of doing this. Some people can hear keys and chords and write them down. Some use charts. Some try an analytical or even statistical approach, with varying amounts of luck. ;-)

If you find charts helpful and want to spend a few bucks, here's a cute little gizzy that might be of use to you. If not, well... just hanging on the wall it cheers up any studio.

It's a fancy rendering of the "circle of fourths and fifths," with a bunch of aids to learning harmony and such built in.

The tutorial on the site might give you some ideas on analyzing a song for chord structure, even if you don't own the wheel.

Meffy

[neverwhere2012]

yea, i'd recommend learning some basic theory. learn the major and minor keys, the circle of fifths, order of sharps and flats, etc. learn how modes work. once you know your theory, harmonizing becomes second nature. if you go ahead and learn the theory, then buy a couple books of very basic piano melodies. Frackenpol's "Guide to Harmonization at the Piano" (think that's the title, i never look, i always just call it frackenpol) is a great way to work up your keyboard skills and learn to apply theory. you'll want to get a basic knowledge of music theory before diving into it though, but once you do it's mainly just simple melodies in various keys and time signatures that need chords filled in. course, i suppose that's probably more than you're willing to take on.

[FlounderEye]

Here's what I'd recommend: just figure out the bass note (low note) that sounds appropriate against the melody note you're playing.

This typically will be the root (bottom note) of the chord you are looking for. From there, the most basic elements of the chord are usually the 3rd and 5th above that. On a keyboard if your bass note is "1" then you skip "2" (the next white key above it) then "3" would be the 3rd. You do the same to get the 5th (skipping a white key). So you're playing "1", "3", and "5". If it doesn't sound right, change the notes that sound odd! This will usually be the "3". If none of this is familiar, don't feel overwhelmed. This is the absolute starting point.

Of course this won't work in ever situation (like if you're using certain scales or playing in a flat or sharp key (black notes on the keyboard), but it is a simple a straight forward way to start.

I use tons of theory when I'm writing music, and know my way around voice leading and chord progressions, but my best stuff pops into my head, and then I figure it out later, at the piano. So, more power to you. Theory certainly helps ALOT, especially with getting a compelling chord progression to start with. But just coming up with a catchy melody, even away from an instrument, is in my mind the real thing to pursue.

I hope this helps.

[Meffy]

Would anyone find my "Amphioxus Chord Organ" MIDI button-board useful? It's a simple imitation of the chord buttons on a Hammond series "S" chord organ (tube oscillators, no tonewheels, but still I wouldn't mind being given a working one).

Not very impressive -- no animated button movement, just a plain graphic with clickable circles representing the buttons. Sends out MIDI note events for the chord you click. That's about it. You can play different chords and see if you hear the one you want. Or noodle about and see how chords work together.

Here's a photo of a real Hammond chord organ's buttons... ah, there's that circle of fourths and fifths again. :-)

This is my imitation, set up to make a suitably cheesy Magnus-like tone.


Yes, it's halfway a joke. But it does actually work. If anyone wants it, say so and I'll post the URL for the download. No documentation, no warranties, be sure to virus-scan, etc. Download's around 405k.

Meffy

[edit] Windows only, sorry. Wish I had Delphi for Mac but them's the breaks.

[3*s]

http://www.looknohands.com

[Squonk]

www.chordwizard.com (as we're posting links) has notes to chord functions etc.

[Sascha Franck]

Apart from having some eartraining lessons (btw, there's been a brilliant little program by Emagic, doing all sorts of automated melody, harmony and rhythm exercises) here's a pretty much simplified, yet usually working approach towards finding out harmonies:

In case they're changin fast and you got no experience, cut the harmony in question out and loop it. That's what computers are brilliant for!

Have your keyboard ready to play.
Now do it step by step:
- Find out the root. In 95% of all cases, the bass will indeed play the root! Of course there's exceptions, but usually you may notice those chords to sound less "stable" than those with the bass actually playing the root. You will defenitely gain experience quickly in figuring out whether the bass is doing so or not. If something is sounding unclear, try to hum, sing, play or whistle the most stable sounding deep note against the chord. There's good chances it'll be the root.
- Find out the correct third (3 halftones from the root: minor third, 4 halftones: major third).
- Find out the correct 5th (7 halftones: straight fifth, 6 halftones: flatted/diminished fifth). If both seem to fit, the straight fifth is correct and the flatted fifth will most likely function as a #11.
- Find out the correct seventh (10 halftones: minor 7th, 11 halftones: major seventh).

In case you're dealing more or less with rock/pop/jazz harmonies, these are THE important 4 chord functions you need to find out to analyze a tune.

You could of course proceed with further options (9, 11, 13), but those often are somewhat hiddenin the chord sound.

You may find out about those further chord options by gaining a bit of theory knowledge. That's when chord/scale theory comes in.
Actually, it's not hard to get the fundamentals of that. Just learn about which chord might build up on which degree of a given scale. The chord options above an octave (9, 11, 13) will then "appear" more or less automatically, at least in many cases. Apart from that, it's only 3 possible notes to try out in case you allready figured the basic 4-part vocing out.

It will also help immensely to get used to some most common chord progressions. I-IV-V-I, II-V-I-VI and the likes come to mind. You may find a whole bunch of those in almost any book about chord/scale relationships and song analysis.
I found analyzing (and playing) some jazz standards and chord progressions to be a really good learnng tool (best song to learn about all of the most basic chord progressions: Autumn Leaves).
In case you got some time to do these things along with some ear training lessons (like hearing intervals and simple chords WITHOUT sitting at your instrument) you will notice a drastic improvement in your transcribing skills pretty fast!

[rokkon]

there's a nice little ebook around doing a theory course, i think it's a good one.
http://www.kwookyworld.com/rsg2mt/rsg2mt.pdf

[soulata]

But just coming up with a catchy melody, even away from an instrument, is in my mind the real thing to pursue.

very much so. if i hear the melody, i'll find the right chords. playing just chord progressions just doesn't bring results (in my case).

@ Sascha Franck

so right.

k

[Stupid American Pig]

for the guitarists out there this book is invaluble.

Chordmaster

It shows you chords typically used by different styles of music, all or most the chords available in a key. when and why you use certain chords. How to create tension, how to resolve the tension, and a section on chords used in popular songs(though that is the least useful part of the book IMHO).

I almost feel like this book is cheating, coz I can knock out a song of chord progressions in like 5 minutes that used to take me days. Though admittedly I am not a great guitarist. I think that anyone from beginner to advanced would enjoy this book though, its very well thought out...

[gambaytheunspoken]

If I may suggest a link that may help alleviate your difficulty. http://www.piggott.net/~change/page4.html

Ciao.