• From: Scotland.
  • Registered: 2006-07-13
  • Posts: 218

Topic: Stuck for a chord structure.

I'm looking for some advice, inspiration....anything!! 


Having just penned another song...well, my second song if I'm honest, I've hit a brick wall trying to get some chords that sit nicely with the lyrics and flow of the song.


Now, I don't have a problem just sitting around and thumping out chords in no particular order, nor with any rhyme or reason too 'em.  So why is it I just can't get the goddamn chords to flow for my new song....which I'm rather pleased with I have too say. I don't wanna consign this one to the scrap paper pile...


So, what do I do???  Should I just leave it for a few days, maybe just lift a chord structure from another song?  I'm really stuck in a rut with this and would greatly appreciate any advice folks. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">



Craig.

Blind acceptance is a sign, of stupid fools who stand in line.  John Lydon.

'Mod' is a shorter word for 'young, beautiful and stupid' - we've all been there." - Pete Townshend.
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Stuck for a chord structure.

I'm just gonna cut and paste my reply to a similar question earlier today. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">


Music theory, man. That's what it all comes down to.


Yes, there are "rules" for what kinds of chords sound better (or "resolve" as we like to say) with others. But it's all dependent on knowing the scale associated with the key in which you are in.


Have a song, and need a melody? Select a key at random, using the tonal quality you want (major, minor, etc) and play that scale. Now start to noodle using only notes in that scale.


That is a simplistic approach, but as you understand more theory, you'll understand how to get more complex licks and which notes of which scales are appropriate to play over a given chord. You can play dorian mode over minor 7 chords and it sounds fab. You can play myxolidan mode over dom 7 chords and it's great.


Chords you will use a whole lot of will be associated with the 1st, 4th, and 5th notes of that scale.


So in C, you'll play a whole lot of C, F and G chords.


IIm V7 I is also popular with jazz players.


But yes, if you are interested in writing more complex music, music theory is your friend, and will enable you to greater things.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website