Musician’s Notebook

When you’re learning something about chords and want to get into songwriting, there are a few things you really need to know.

Let’s start off with the fact that you need a basic understanding about chords.

So what are chords?

Well, let’s just say chords are pretty much in a nutshell, 2 notes or more being played at the same time. Having said this we know that we have a large amounts of notes we can combine together and only some of them sound right together at the right time. Which is why I’m going to briefly get into chord colors. I’m not really going to go all into music theory about this, but I will give you a basic understanding about each chord color family which are major, minor, power, sevenths.

(For a free music theory crash course, go to http://www.musictheory.net )

Major: Happy and positive.

Minor: Sad, sinister, and negative.

Power: It’s got a neutral sound and makes it sound powerful, but it’s because it doesn’t use the third of the typical chords. (For example, Major chord have a 3rd (The second note) in the middle that gives the chord a characteristics of happy while minor gives it the opposite effect).

Seventh: These are supposed to sound kinda jazzy/bluesy sound and gives it a sexy sounding vibe.

Next thing to focus are the rhythmic elements of a groove. Those four basic elements are tempo, feel, rhythmic level, and rhythmic idea.

Tempo: Would be the timing on the metronome. In other words, when you clap your hands in rhythm to your favorite song. That’s the tempo.

Feel: Says it all, what kind of feel are you going for? Rock? R&Bish? etc.

Rhythmic Level: The main rhythm in notes. Let’s say for an example 8th Notes? Quarter Notes? Etc.

Rhythmic Idea: Would be like rhythmic level but combining the rests in there. So you’re not only going to be hitting 8th notes only, but you’re rhythmic level is mostly 8th notes, but then you have a quarter rest here or there.

Now time for practice, use a chord you want to use (any chord) and if you have a metronome put it in a tempo of your choice. Then just start playing a one chord groove. Try to use different approaches like use quarter notes, then 8th notes, and alternate. You’ll begin to get the hang of alternating your grooves without even realizing it, but the best thing way to use this to your effect in a song is by recognizing your motives. I learn this from Shane Adams At www.Berkleemusic.com

Exact Repeatition: Lets say in one measure on 4/4 you played a groove on the next measure you’ll play the same exact thing.

Varied Repeatition: The same as above except the second half of the second measure you will alternate a note or rhythm or so.

Alternating Two Motives: Let’s say you play a groove in one measure of 4/4, but in the second measure you will play something completely different than the first measure, but musically speaking needs to sound like its still part of each other.

Anyways, more on harmony next time…..