The Axis of Awesome analyzed all the pop music hits, and came to the conclusion that you only need to know 4 simple chords to make a good song! Sounds easy enough... check out the medley.
There's only 12 notes, so 4 chords cover a third of that ... I did an essay on a popular chord progression I-IV-V, it's everywhere, new & old songs for the past 100 years at least.
The vast majority of popular songs (and folk songs) use only three chords. The simple practice of adding a fourth chord at the right point adds an edge of pathos, or at least makes the song sound a little less generic. People who study music know all about this, and of course "classical" music has a tendency to be much more complex than four chords.
If all those songs use those 4 cords, why does it sound like "Don't stop believing" at first before any lyrics? I wonder if it's the little exra three-notes put in?
You got it right in the headline, but not in the description. Maybe it only takes 4 chords to make a HIT song, but rarely a GOOD song. Most of these are hardly examples of good songs...rather, popular songs. And having a repeating progression from part of from PART of a song hardly constitutes the whole song.
Good grief! What a waste of five minutes! And I got rewarded for this by hearing a gross obscenity at the end? Neatorama, you have reached a new low. Pathetic jerks! This widespread four-chord simplicity was NOT true when I was listening to pop music (late '50s through 1984). There were TONS of songs with much more complex chord patterns and progressions. Almost 100% of this aggregation of songs where from 1985 to 2008, I assume, because I had never even heard any of them (except three from before 1985)! What we see here -- the four-chord simplicity -- is emblematic of 2009 society in general: ultra-DUMBED-DOWN, lacking in talent or effort or both! Come on, you stupid composers. Come up with something original or quit and leave the rest of history to be used on listening only to "oldies."
This may cover verses or the chorus, but not necessarily both at the same time. That's a test of a well put together piece of music, one that changes. I also think it's very Western, but my scope of Eastern music is limited. Bridges and changes, while moving to another set of three/four chords, does add to the richness of a song. So, yeah, it's not that simple.
One of my friends and I realized this when we took our first year of music theory together, and since then we can't listen to pop music because it bothers us so much.
I agree with others who say that this is a trivial finding. (Play most pop hits in 5 easy lessons...)
What I want is a catalog of songs grouped by common chord progressions. You know - how this song has the same prog' as this other one?
Or for greater depth, after find the percent of songs use progression A, B, C.... Then we'll have a better idea of how much pop eats itself, and how we're paying (if we're still paying) for the same songs, over and over.
Guys! If you paid attention to the tone of the video, they aren't taking it as seriously as you are. Their merely illustrating an interesting trend in popular music and making it FUNNY. That's the POINT of the whole thing. Lighten up music snobs!
I personally cracked up when one of the singers went for the high notes in 'Take on me.'
Pop is pop because it's popular not because it's interesting. It's easy to sing along to; catchy for the masses of people that still confuse music with magic. Tiring for anyone who studies music, is creative, or can recognize patterns.
This is obvious and comedian-musicians have riffed on this for years. Still, it's good to get out there.
The POINT? It PAYS to pay attention to lyrics and cadence, intensity and intent. That's what makes a song.
Anyone who has posted in this thread needs to check out the brilliant lyrics of Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) and many other "classic" rockers who know how to turn music into magic.
It's easy to sit down and come up with a list of songs all starting with the letter G for example, but how on earth do you come up with a list of songs all in the same key with the same I V vi IV chord progression.
it's not how many chords you use but how you put melody into it and how it is arranged to be appealing that counts..You can even use 1 chord and still make a good song with different melodies..and for those saying that 4 or 3 chord songs are lousy songs..grow up or shut up! you don't know what you are saying...the human perception of music (non musicians and masses) can only accommodate a few chords and an octave plus 2 of notes which will register well for recall.. for the chord progressions, even if it is the same with a thousand of other songs, there are still unlimited ways to make variations such as melody, tone, tempo, groove, etc....yes it has been the long-used formula for pop music..but it doesn't matter if it's pop, progressive of whatever..good music from the heart is still good music...
look sure enougth its a simple chord progression and yes its cool and for all the wingers out there saying it isnt music you have lost touch about what music really is to the people saying it is soo simple it is soo easy these disgust me these are lame music isnt all about the theory you need soul if you listen to most of the songs sure they have the same riff but there diffrent there personal there sung from the heart so it isnt lame you need to learn what music really is expressing your self and letting your emotions flow freely besides it so happens that those four chords can sound the same but there all diffrent listen again and you will understand
A previous comment said classical music is more complex. That is not stricly true! A melody line can be hamonized in may ways. Thats why you can have the same chord progression fitting many melodies. An extreme example would be take fou bars of the G, how many melodies can you come up with? I could ploy four bars of the 'G' note, BUT in some syncopated rythm. Then 'B' and 'C'. I could use G major appegio. This what a jazz and even Bach (baroque) improvisation is about. The songs have diffrent melodies but the same chord progression. The chords are not the song, the song is the melody and the words (or vocalised sounds).
Im kindof new to this kindof thing, id like to know what the chords are? I IV VI doesnt mean anything to me :( i play guitar so if there's a way to convert it to guitar id be very thankful! like G, D, Em, C works for almost all songs but this '4 chords' thing arent these chords. thank you very much if you reply! my email is mgauffin@mail.com thanks again
It was awesome, how long did it take to make the connection, I often thought a lot of the music sound the same, does this may they can all sue each other for copyright ... hhhehehehehe
Even Mozart uses better chord progression than this!! (And I do not mean this as a compliment.) I guess this proves again that pop/rock/metal music is even worse than Mozart.
The chords on guitar are: C G Am F. Then repeat. Other songs like 99 red balloons, mario kart love song, hips don't lie, etc can be done with those if you transpose a little XD
Look up the original Grease (or watch the movie in the dance). Those Magic Changes points these chords out. C Am F G. They use G7 in the show but its still the same chords.
I get where some musician buffs would knit-pick this vid, but really, it's just funny, and it's fun to watch and sing along to. It's a COMEDY rock band. COMEDY. it's meant to be laughed at. so chill, and laugh away :] cuz i sure did.
This is a funny lil vid. Me and my best friend john are doing this for the talent show this year. Cuz it's interesting, and SOOO much fun to play ^.^ and all u crazy musician crazies... IGNORANCE IS BLISS! Im just chillin wit my 4 chords. So what the Ramones only use 3? I love the ramones, but this is still unbelievably fun to play and enjoy. :))
I IV V I, Tonic Predominant Dominant Cadence.
Just to be clear :)
Front cover of Sniffin' Glue magazine showed three chord positions with the strapline "Now go and form a band."
This is funny.
Whether if it's true or been around for forever, who cares, I still found it fun to watch.
What I want is a catalog of songs grouped by common chord progressions. You know - how this song has the same prog' as this other one?
Or for greater depth, after find the percent of songs use progression A, B, C.... Then we'll have a better idea of how much pop eats itself, and how we're paying (if we're still paying) for the same songs, over and over.
Search for "Pachelbel rant" in Youtube.
I personally cracked up when one of the singers went for the high notes in 'Take on me.'
Alot of great songs only use three chords. They don't have to be complex to sound good.
And yea, what the title said, it only needs 4 chords to be a HIT song, not a good song.
The POINT? It PAYS to pay attention to lyrics and cadence, intensity and intent. That's what makes a song.
Anyone who has posted in this thread needs to check out the brilliant lyrics of Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) and many other "classic" rockers who know how to turn music into magic.
^ win
It's easy to sit down and come up with a list of songs all starting with the letter G for example, but how on earth do you come up with a list of songs all in the same key with the same I V vi IV chord progression.
Genius.
i play guitar so if there's a way to convert it to guitar id be very thankful! like G, D, Em, C works for almost all songs but this '4 chords' thing arent these chords.
thank you very much if you reply!
my email is mgauffin@mail.com
thanks again
http://open.spotify.com/user/m3rlan/playlist/1owP3fLnfKPfaYjMZ3hcHt
I honestly don't know what the key is, but if it's F then you want:
C G Am F
Just figured I'd clear it up since your post's entire purpose was to help the guys who don't know music theory.
C G Am F.
Then repeat. Other songs like 99 red balloons, mario kart love song, hips don't lie, etc can be done with those if you transpose a little XD
Those Magic Changes points these chords out.
C Am F G. They use G7 in the show but its still the same chords.