"All you need to know is Three Chords"

[anthonyc007]

You know the cliche: "All you need to know to play rock n roll is three chords"??

First of all, not true at all, IMHO.

Second, what chords do "they" mean? My first thought was G,C,D. I run across a heck of a lot of songs in this key. Then I thought about RnR being based upon the blues. Then maybe they mean E,A,B (commom for 12 bar blues, or course).

Does anyone know what is the intent behind that cliche; what chords they mean? Just curious.

[Jim Tozier]

Basically, "they" are referring to the I-IV-V chords, which many--if not most--blues, rock, pop, country, etc., songs use. If you know the I-IV-V chords, you're in good shape.

By the way, in the key of G, those chords are G-C-D, and in the key of E, they're E-A-B. So, you see, you're right!!!

[Bluepoet]

Rock & Roll--First, you lay down the key (I), then you shoot your 45..(IV,V)!!!


C-F-G...Louie, Louie--and, Hang On Sloopy--Wild Thing!!

[beach bob]

yeah, but that doesn't explain

I Can't Explain

E > D > A > E



Seriously, what Jim said. Though you might want to set that rule aside when the guy calls a Steely Dan tune <G>

[Jim Tozier]

Originally Posted by beach bob

yeah, but that doesn't explain

I Can't Explain

E > D > A > E

I-IV-V in key of A is A-D-E. So maybe it's a V-VI-I-V chord progression in A.

And yes, forget I-IV-V when playing Steely Dan. In fact, forget about playing Steely Dan.

[flaggerphil]

There are more than three chords???

[Bern]

Originally Posted by flaggerphil

There are more than three chords???

Of course, you're right. The question wasn't ask properly. There are three chord functions in a major scale.
Chords ? We have plenty of those.

[Bluepoet]

And, it just keeps on evolving...or should we blame it on Holy Modal Rounders?
Harvey Kirshners?

Rock & Roll, the Darwinian style of music...!!

[mtnByker]

Originally Posted by beach bob

you might want to set that rule aside when the guy calls a Steely Dan tune <G>

or most Beatles tunes.

[dthumb]

Aw, c'mon..every body knows you really need a couple of minors, too. Am, Em,, E, A, B, C, G D, F...that 'bout does it...for country, rock, and blues.

Ok, so thats a bit of and exaggeration....maybe not blues..hehe.

[bjay540]

Originally Posted by dthumb

Aw, c'mon..every body knows you really need a couple of minors, too. Am, Em,, E, A, B, C, G D, F...that 'bout does it...for country, rock, and blues.

Ok, so thats a bit of and exaggeration....maybe not blues..hehe.

Neil Young made a lot of money off of using a minor (Bm-E-A)
if you want to play the blues you need to learn the 7th chords

[nubjamin]

personally, i play an awful lot of 3-chord songs. not because they're easy (nothing played well is "easy," imo) but because i just happen to like 'em.

although now that i think of it, most of those 3-chord I-IV-V songs have a minor in there somewhere, sometimes two, so i guess i really don't know that many purely 3-chord songs. it's hard to write a (good) song with just 3 chords!

[gsdvip]

Personally, I've become a fan of the D to Dmaj7 progression that John Denver uses in one of his songs. I can't wait to get to that theory about the chord types like I, II, etc..

[bjay540]

Originally Posted by anthonyc007

You know the cliche: "All you need to know to play rock n roll is three chords"??

First of all, not true at all, IMHO.

Second, what chords do "they" mean? My first thought was G,C,D. I run across a heck of a lot of songs in this key. Then I thought about RnR being based upon the blues. Then maybe they mean E,A,B (commom for 12 bar blues, or course).

Does anyone know what is the intent behind that cliche; what chords they mean? Just curious.

rock-n-roll electric guitar players will play mostly barre chords therefore if you can barre G and C then it doesn't matter which chords as the fingering is the same, you just move up and down the fretboard.
to be a rock-n-roller learn 3 chords
then learn to get in tune and stay on the beat
grow crazy hairdo
and then you can start a band...

[samchar]

"All I got is this red guitar, three chords and the truth"

Lots of three chord ditties out there that are a real pleasure to play. You can start with Hank Williams and wind up at U2 and there's quite a bit of Dylan in between.