JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Music Theory and Education What are your new favorite chord changes?

I've been hearing the old flat seven popping up in songs. I think it was championed by Kid Rock's "Sweet Home Alabama" tribute.

Razzy and I wrote a song yesterday with a flat seven going to a five, long one of my favorites, though I hadn't used it much lately. Now it's appealing to my ears again.

How about you folks? Any chord changes you're getting into lately?

I just started fooling with this jazzy one yesterday. This link has an example on nylon string (top left) and a totally different take under Here Is A Slide Solo (bottom left).

http://www.thatllteachyou.com/RareGuitars/los_blues.html

Colin,

Cool changes! I'd call your Dm/B either a Bm7b5 or my favorite name a B half diminished seventh. It appears here in the traditional placement of the 7 half/dim7. It leads to the Esus and the E, so it's acting as the dominant of the E or the 5 of 3.

Very nice website.

Mike

I sure like my 9s, 2s and 4s! i.e. A A9 A2 A A4, etc.

Another one that tends to slip into my music is F (major scale) to Eb (minor scale) or vice versa. What's also cool is playing a straight A chord when the scale suggests an Am.

Too many tricks left to try, I'm afraid...

Hey all! I'm new to here but I loved this question. I personally like a Major 7 IV chord to a Minor 7 IV chord, to a Major 7 I chord. I don't know if this makes sense to anyone, but it sounds really pretty. Myfavs in general are the Fully Diminshed though. Just something about that beautiful ambience.

Thanks for reading, this web site looks like a lot of fun!

I hope to keep posting.

Austin

I'm kind of partial to this little chord sequence:

Imaj6, II7, I#maj7, I

Example:

Cmaj6, D7, C#maj7, C

It really sounds good in a Bossa Nova beat or in Swing Jazz.

Also, in lieu of the straight Augmented, I often substitute a 7th#5. It gives the chord a different nuance. It is very commonly used in almost all forms of Jazz. But, I have been using it in Country, Pop and Reggae.

Here's another one I like: I, VIminor7,flatted13th, I. The minor 7th with the flatted 13th has a sound totally different from any other chord. Yes, I know they are ALL different. However, the difference in this one is so much more pronounced. The Six minor 7th with flatted 13th simply begs to go back to the One Chord.

My thoughts for the day.

Alan

Al,

Wonderful changes, all you need is to throw in a Dm7 and you've got "The Girl from Ipanema." It also has a little feel of "Bali Hai."

The Am7b13 is the same, except for the bass, as an Fmaj9. (A C E G F...F A C E G) It sure does lead better to the C.

Terrific chord passages.

Mike

I'm rediscovering the beauty of three chord songs again, after a long stretch of complex.. pick any combination Ü

Also the changes in George Harrisons "Isn't it a pity" is great IMO

There's a sound thats consuming my attemtion its not a pretty soound, its kind of a everyday sound it randy newmons sound I would love to know those chords and understand those progressions and theory
His playing on the song "you've got a driend in me" really fasinates me

Hi Mike,

'Weak movement' changes have always been my favorite, as in I to iii, or vi to IV...up or down a third, basically...but here's what's new with me:

make the chord change, THEN do a direct modulation to a relative key, as in:

C/Am/C/Am/Eb/Cm/Eb/Cm ...and repeat the 8 bars...

often times I'll repeat the same pattern in the new key, as in this example, but the important thing is the direct modulation...

This approach is breathing new life into my music. Getting beyond pure diatonic chords, but treating the modulation in a real quiet way, not directing attention to it. When done non-nonchalantly, directly, like this, it doesn't even feel like a modulation any more, but like "extended diatonics" ... if that makes any sense?

Mike

I like tinkering around with different styles and have looked more at chord structures.
I like everything being played, even though it has just been myself playing all the instruments.
I don't have the gene for technical skills despite my efforts and could only rely on imitating forms previously if I were to half ways not lose the listener.
Learning different styles and chord change ups to a simple level I figure might at least add something for the listener to hold their attention.

I came to the internet to study different styles and the theories behind them.

In every influence and chord change up it is like a history lesson.

If anything else, it has expanded my listening diet greatly.

Lately I have been studying avant and symphonic music more.
Different alternative genres inspired me to first pick up the instrument.
But I never really studied the forms as much as I wanted to with acts like Velvet Underground, Roxy Music, early Pink Floyd, or Can.
Knowing the history of these different music forms is a good reference.

There are acts that have influenced music I have never even heard of.
Oddly, most of them are not hit makers while other acts have taken the style and have ran with it.

If you want to hear some music that has influenced big time then listen to some classical music or ethnic African and Indian and other world music. Another great source is cajun and Zydeco it takes influences from many cultures and styles mixes them in a pot and produces its own unique style. Blues is another genre that has influenced the pop/rock industry. Many acts like The Stones, most prog rock bands, Soul and even to a degree country have roots in blues. The more eclectic your listening tastes the more rounded a performer, musician and songwriter you will be.

I, bVII, IV, V. I refer to it as "The Peter Townsend" progression.

Hello:

These chords I like a lot. Use a dim 7th for the bass and build fourth chords.

Here is an example: C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab, Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Cb, F#-B-E-A-D, A-D-G-C-F

Hope you like it too.

James Guglielmo

I like fourths a lot, James. Thanks for posting.

The song Bluesette by "Toots" Theilemans has some similar changes in it. Here he is playing it with Stevie Wonder:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzln9jXrX_g

Hello:

Thank you for that wonder video.

James Guglielmo

Nothing fancy, but I've always been partial to the G to Em chord change in Scruggs "Foggy Mountain Breakdown".