Permit me to geek [for prosaic bean-counters only]: the chord progression starting the madness is E-B-C#m-A .. three major chords and one minor chord built off the I, V, VI (minor) and IV notes of the eight-note major musical scale. That's the musical DNA, and a little variety in melody gives you your bazillion songs. Somebody at Pandora or Musical Genome has a boner.
I like the same chords in the I-VI(m)-IV-V progression -- the classics Stand By Me, Every Breath You Take, etc.
Or VI(m)-I-V-IV = Polly (Nirvana)
Of course, Dave and Jay know this stuff deep in their bones anyway...
Once you've been playing awhile, you start to recognize the classic changes. I especially enjoy discouraging young songwriters who show me something 'new' and I instantly am able to point out what other 327 songs they've just written. Instilling disappointment in others keeps me from feeling superior and less like a washed up old has-been.
7 comments:
Good find, Dave! I'll add The Cars' "My Best Friend's Girl" to the list.
Anybody else?
Nice! I cannot even begin to comprehend why they have never had a hit.
Permit me to geek [for prosaic bean-counters only]:
the chord progression starting the madness is E-B-C#m-A .. three major chords and one minor chord built off the I, V, VI (minor) and IV notes of the eight-note major musical scale. That's the musical DNA, and a little variety in melody gives you your bazillion songs. Somebody at Pandora or Musical Genome has a boner.
I like the same chords in the I-VI(m)-IV-V progression -- the classics Stand By Me, Every Breath You Take, etc.
Or VI(m)-I-V-IV = Polly (Nirvana)
Of course, Dave and Jay know this stuff deep in their bones anyway...
I knew we made you poobah for some reason ...
Once you've been playing awhile, you start to recognize the classic changes. I especially enjoy discouraging young songwriters who show me something 'new' and I instantly am able to point out what other 327 songs they've just written. Instilling disappointment in others keeps me from feeling superior and less like a washed up old has-been.
It warms my heart that somewhere out there, Dave crushes dreams and gives comeuppance to enthusiastic, deserving youths.
Musicians are brilliant!
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