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Some of the greatest rock songs use the same chords

created by Qeyser

(idea) by Qeyser (5.8 d) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri Jun 01 2001 at 22:37:34

People complain that modern pop and rock music is too repetitive, but some of the best rocks songs of *all time* use precisely the same musical chord structure. Here are a few examples:

All Along the Watchtower(Several artists, Org. Bob Dylan):

(A min) (G maj) (F maj) (Gmin)
There must be some kinda way outta here
(A min) (G maj) (F maj)
Said the joker to the chief

California Dreaming(The Mamas and the Papas):
All the leaves are . . .
(A min) (G maj) (F maj) (G maj) (E min7)
. . . brown . . . . . . . .and the sky is grey

Dream On(Aerosmith):
Ok, so the original key is F minor, but if we transpose to A minor . . .
(A min) (G maj) (F maj) (G maj)
I know, nobody knows, where it comes and where it goes

And of course we can't forget

Stairway to Heaven(Led Zeppelin):

(A min) (G maj) (F maj) (G maj)
And as we wind on down the road
(A min) (G maj) (F maj) (G maj)
Our shadows taller than our souls


Not only that, but there are plenty of newer songs that use the same thing, for instance:

(Originally in B minor)
(A min) (G maj) (F maj) (G maj)
Cause I'm just a girl, little ol' me

and from Staring at the Sun by U2

(A min) (G maj) (F maj)
Summer stretching on the grass, summer dresses pass
In the shade of a willow tree creeps a crawling over me
Over me and over you, stuck together with God's glue

And there are so many others. If you find more, post or soft link them below. If you want to learn the chords to all of these songs go to the OLGA guitar tabulature archive(where most of these tabs came from). If you want to learn to play all of these songs you should go pick up a guitar and just start playing because it is loads of fun and nearly anyone can do it.


printable version
chaos

Overused chord progressions Trent Reznor in a duet with Alanis Morissette All Along the Watchtower Home Recording on a Budget: We Got the Beat
Stairway to Heaven Three chords and the truth Death Cab for Cutie God Bless My Underwear
OLGA Awkward as a silent breakfast after a one night stand Flame on! chord
Frets on Fire Boys can run faster than girls: Reflections on adolescent gender differences 100 Greatest Songs Baba O'Riley
guitar The playing of the following four songs anywhere near a pianist is prohibited Jacob Wetterling Everybody Hurts
refugee The Mamas and the Papas How to play guitar Dream On
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