Why are some of the most beautiful songs...

[Cecil6243]

the simplest melodies and chord progressions?

I thought about this today as I was learning a new song today that is fairly simple to finger pick and remember due to its simplicity and repetition of a simple chord progression.

Your thoughts?

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

the simplest melodies and chord progressions?

I thought about this today as I was learning a new song today that is fairly simple to finger pick and remember due to its simplicity and repetition of a simple chord progression.

Your thoughts?

Hi Cecil

Because simple playing and clear lyrics speaks to listeners, and complex playing (verging on acrobatic) excites players?

[Cecil6243]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi Cecil

Because simple playing and clear lyrics speaks to listeners, and complex playing (verging on acrobatic) excites players?

[Dru Edwards]

It's about the melody that speaks to listeners.

One amazing chord progressions I like has no lyrics/singing at all, Pachelbel Canon in D.

[pieterh]

Some of the finest melodies are constructed over seemingly simple structures! Of course if you break them down harmonically then they can get quite complex but they’re not written with that in mind.

Two of my favourites are Neil Young: Unknown Legend and Hothouse Flowers: Christchurch Bells. Both are beautiful songs and both are written around 2 chords (G & C in both cases that is just coincidence).

Now that I think of it, isn’t Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles written around a drone tone and max 2 chords?

[MikeB1]

I think Larry has captured it well.

You are reminding me of a particular memory I have of playing with my best friend who recently passed away. He was a music major at Queens College. He was very knowledgeable. He was learning all about theory, harmony, and orchestration.

We would get together and play songs from "The Real Book." Some of those standards were very challenging. As players, we were drawn to those because we wanted to become better players.

One day we tried a much simpler piece. It is called; "Little B's Poem," by Bobby Hutcherson. We were stunned by the beauty of the melody and how perfectly the melody and chords complemented each other. We came to realize the beauty and elegance there can be in simplicity.

[Andyrondack]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

the simplest melodies and chord progressions?

I thought about this today as I was learning a new song today that is fairly simple to finger pick and remember due to its simplicity and repetition of a simple chord progression.

Your thoughts?

I think the melodies to Irish folksongs and tunes are among the most beautifull, but for the most part they were never written through chord progressions, accoustic guitar being not that great at interpreting tunes without some accompaniment means that we have to shoe horn them into some kind of harmonic structure , think of tunes like Londonderry air ( Danny Boy) Raglan Road, South Wind, Blackwater Side, The Parting Glass etc etc, beautifull tunes that when played on traditional instruments like pipes and fiddles really have no need of chords.

[FrankHudson]

Because music is so powerful that you don't need a lot of it to get a significant effect.

[The Bard Rocks]

Beautiful songs tend to be slower, and maybe quieter. Other than ornamentation notes, too many notes can get in the way. Elegant & simple are cornerstones.

I liken it to writing songs. Most always mine improve as I find ways to remove unnecessary words.

Remember, we're talking in broad generalities here.

[Cobby]

OK, I guess I'm going to be a little contrarian here.

I think there are also plenty of beautiful songs that aren't particularly simple - especially harmonically. God Only Knows by the Beach Boys comes to mind. And a lot of Beatles songs are like that. Say, If I Fell, or Here There and Everywhere or Something for example (along with probably several dozen others).

I find that in general I'm more often drawn to songs that have a bit of harmonic interest and complexity. That really tickles my brain stem somehow - but not complexity for complexity's sake. The best ones still have that sense of elegance and you might not even notice how intriguing the harmonic structure is at first. Those are the one's that really turn me on.

I mean, I also absolute love plenty of songs that are very simple and elegant as mentioned in this thread. But for me it's not the simplicity really. It's just whether or not the song does something for me. And I find that sometimes songs that are simple harmonically do that, but probably more often, songs that have some intriguing harmonic complexity do it for me as well.

[anarchris]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

the simplest melodies and chord progressions?

I thought about this today as I was learning a new song today that is fairly simple to finger pick and remember due to its simplicity and repetition of a simple chord progression.

Your thoughts?

what I love about Pink Floyd wish you were here
is it starts out very simple and remains so yet adds layer upon layer so you can be a beginner or advanced yet enjoy hearing/learning it

[DethWshBkr]

I find simplicity in most things is the best. I love simple foods too. It lets you enjoy the flavors (or sounds) better, without being jumbled up in other crap.

[KevWind]

No doubt part of reason is.



Quote: "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."


Ain't it the truth.

[Gordon Currie]

For me, there are certain songs that are beautiful not BECAUSE of their simplicity, but IN SPITE of it.

However, I find that the compositions that bring me to tears with their beauty have a fair amount of complexity:

Phil Keaggy - I Love You Lord
Steve Morse/Dixie Dregs - Night Meets Light
Ralph Vaughn Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Pat Metheny - First Circle

When I drill down and look at a simple beautiful song, I generally find that there are two possible elements involved: a powerful lyric and/or an uncommonly gorgeous melody. Often it is the combination.

[blue]

Can't hear this without closing my eyes at some point. Happens every time