[Fmpro] Chords to Avoid

[Pete]

Hi Fernando,

For some deep pop music theory check out "The Beatles
Songwriting Secrets". It's hard to find in the US.

http://www.musicforte.com/shop/lyrics-and-sheet-music/product/331440/TheSongwritingSecretsofTheBeatles/

And you're completely right, there's more to a pop
song than it's harmony. You have to give props to
Dolly Parton for writing an emotionally compelling
song with just I VIm IV V. Like in other country
writers, the emphasis is off the harmony and on honest
heart-felt lyrics. (Or, at least they have to feel
honest and heartfelt to the listener).

Pete



--- Fernando Rivas <fernando at rivasmusic.com> wrote:
> Basically the circle of 5ths including neighboring
> or passing chords, or
> I-IV-V, major or minor or modal, or VII(flat)-I
> major, minor or modal,
> sometimes V(minor)-I major, minor, or modal will
> cover 99% of pop music.
> However, it is very important to remember that
> harmony is just ONE element.
> What should probably be avoided are repetitive
> formats with these chords but
> it is interesting to analyze pop tunes that are
> successful in the way they
> use these progressions in unexpected ways and how
> and when in the tune the
> composers break them up - no better example than the
> Beatles, primarily, or
> any of the big successful hits of the last forty
> years.  Off the top of my
> head check out the hammered out usage of the I-IV-V
> blues (including the
> arpeggiation of the I dominant 7-9) format in James
> Brown¹s I Feel Good or
> the vaudevillian V7 interruption in
> Lennon-McCartney¹s When I¹m Sixty Four ­
> both predictable and yet exceedingly original and
> Œcatchy¹.
> Then there¹s Louie Louie ­ harmonically ridiculous
> but there¹s something
> about that bluesy melody, that weird-ass, screwed-up
> vocal and those lyrics.


      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.  http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ