Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website.
Let Gary’s songwriting e-books show you how to fix your songs. Click here to read more.
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Good songs are a balance of foreground and background. The foreground elements are the aspects of the song that the listener would notice right away, such as the melody, basic beat/rhythm and so on. Background elements include backing vocals and instruments, and chord progressions. You need to know that more songs fail because of weaknesses in the background than in the foreground.
Of all the background elements that make up a good song, the one that causes the most problem is chord choice. A chord progression needs balance, and needs to support the melody. Many can tell that something is amiss with their chord progressions, but can’t tell what to do about it. The biggest problem comes from progressions that don’t move in predictable ways. This is why chord progression formulas are a great idea for songwriters.
Consider the following progression:
C F Em G F Em C
It’s what we’d call an aimless progression, because the roots of those chords seem to meander without reason or direction. Chords like to move in predictable ways. Not every progression will be predictable, because there is such a thing in the arts as excessive predictability. But most of what you create for chord progressions should be somewhat conventional. This is because a predictable progression has the effect of “pulling the listener” along, and makes them want to keep listening.
A formula is simply a pattern of chords, often designated by numbers, that songwriters can use throughout their songs. They are the kind of progressions that are solidly rooted in the history of music theory, and stand the test of time. An excellent example of a chord progression formula is the so-called Circle of Fifths. A “C of F” progression is made up of chords whose roots are a 4th or 5th away from each other, such as: Em Am Dm G C.
So doesn’t a formula simply cause your progressions to be boringly predictable? No! The chord progression is simply the landscape upon which you construct the more important elements of your songs. So predictable progressions are only a problem if all of your other song elements are also predictable.
You’ll find from time to time that you’ll want to create songs that use innovative harmonies, and that’s great. But stick with formulas for creating your chord progressions, and your songs will feel solid and structurally sound.
Right now, my e-book “Chord Progression Formulas” is being offered free with any purchase on my website. Click here to read about that e-book, and the others that I’ve written that can help turn your songs into winners.
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