Might seem like an odd request...

[stephensmat]

I'm looking for a piece of music that can be played... (And here's the unusual part)... without any chord changes.

It's to help me practice fingering. I'm taking the approach where I learn to play in slices, chords, then fingering, then chord-change, etc...

It doesn't have to be anything serious. Write it yourself if you like, just a piece where you can forget what you're left hand is doing for a bit, leaving you to focus on plucking the right strings.

Minor chords are preferable but not required.

It's a bizarre request, requiring people who know what they're talking about, love talking about it, and don't mind the fact that they're surrounded by people who are new at this.

So obviously, I'm asking the right people.

[Bern]

Well...there is a 'one chord' song I know of, 'Tomorrow Never Knows' by the Beatles. I believe it's in C. I'm sure there are more...

[EVANSSS]

I'm looking for a piece of music that can be played... (And here's the unusual part)... without any chord changes.


I think that this is a good idea to develop you right hand technique, focusing only on your right hand. However, I don't think that it is going to be a good piece of music.

Perhaps try learning some picking techniques, and them aplly them to an easy song ("knocking on heavens door and wonderful tonight" come to mind)?

There was a thread the other day with some good ideas - just fret any minor chord (ie Am x02210) and try some of these ideas out.

maybe an idea like this?

x------------------------------------
1------------i--------------------i--
2------i-----------------i-----------
2---------T-------------------T----
0---T----------------T-------------
x-----------------------------------

[mmmaak]

What a strange request :p

I can't think of anything that would fit your description. Maybe some Buddhist chants? :lol:

Even if you could find single-key songs, I'm not sure what you intend to achieve from this. Wouldn't they be nearly as boring as simply playing right-hand exercises?

My suggestion is to take some very simple but nice-sounding chord progressions (e.g. Cmaj7, Am7, Dm7, G7, repeat) and play arpeggios or Travis picking patterns over them.

[EVANSSS]

Even if you could find single-key songs, I'm not sure what you intend to achieve from this.

I think the OP wants to build up songs piece by piece?

[mmmaak]

I think the OP wants to build up songs piece by piece?
ohhhh, so he meant "a piece of music" as in "a musical passage"?

[stephensmat]

ohhhh, so he meant "a piece of music" as in "a musical passage"?

That would do nicely. Thank you.

[vac4873]

"Papa was a Rollin' Stone" by the Temptations is a one chord song, although there's plenty of vocal and instrumental embellishment, there is actually only one chord in the structure. "Commotion" by Creedence fits this, too. Both of them are built on a single minor chord. "Born on the Bayou" is built on a seventh chord, although there is a quick two chord turnaround, all the melody is built around the single seventh

[ljguitar]

I'm looking for a piece of music that can be played... (And here's the unusual part)... without any chord changes.

It's to help me practice fingering. I'm taking the approach where I learn to play in slices, chords, then fingering, then chord-change, etc...

It doesn't have to be anything serious. Write it yourself if you like, just a piece where you can forget what you're left hand is doing for a bit, leaving you to focus on plucking the right strings.

Minor chords are preferable but not required.

It's a bizarre request, requiring people who know what they're talking about, love talking about it, and don't mind the fact that they're surrounded by people who are new at this.

So obviously, I'm asking the right people.
Hi stephen...
How about the opening phrase to Pete Huttlinger's Darcy's Guitar. It centers around the same chord for the first three changes...

[mmmaak]

That would do nicely. Thank you.
Off the top of my head, what about the Esus4 section in the intro for The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes"?

Esus4 Em G D Ds4 D
e---------------0-------------------0-------0---------3-------2---2-3--2---
B--T---------0---0--0-0----0---------0------0--------0-0-----3-----3-3--3--
G--A-----2----2---2--2----2-2------2--2-2--0---0----0---3-0-2---2-----2--2-
D--B----2-(2)--2---2---2-2---2-2--2----2--2---2---0--------0---0-0--------0
A------2----------------2-----2--2---------------2-------------------------
E-----0----------------------------------0---------3-----3-----------------
You can practice it fingerpicked or flatpicked. Sounds cool too! :guitar:

(sorry, the chord positions seem to have gotten a little screwed up. Hold 022200 for an Esus4)

[Wolf]

Bo Diddley songs? Who do you love?In open F#.

[patrickgm60]

I'm looking for a piece of music that can be played... (And here's the unusual part)... without any chord changes.

"Born in the USA" by Springsteen is a 2-chord song (barely) that might suit your purpose..

[stephensmat]

Something exactly like this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW8RlKJwOZA