Songwriting - chord choices

Blending Major and Minor Chords Within a Song Section

For whichever key you choose for a song, there are certain chords that you’ll use because they exist naturally in that key. Then there are the chords you’ll choose, not because they belong to that key, but because they add a bit of musical interest. Stuck with how to get chords that fit the melody […]

Guitar - altered chords

Creating Quick Mood Swings Using Chord Surprises

One of the reasons many songwriters like the chords-first songwriting process is that chords do a great job of setting up a mood. Once you’ve got the mood, you’ll find that lyrics happen a bit easier, and then many things fall into place: melody, rhythmic feel, tempo, and so on. One way to get even […]

Using a Minor-IV Chord In a Major Progression

Even just a bit of chord theory can prevent your songs from sounding like MUDDLE. “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” eBook Bundle packages will show you how to harmonize melodies, and will explain in clear terms why some chords work well together while others don’t. Learn the basics of chords, melodies, lyrics, and much more. __________ For any […]

Seven Progressions that Use Altered Chords

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and discover the secret of getting chords to work. An altered chord is simply one which doesn’t naturally occur in a given key. Altered chords add musical interest to a song by creating a small harmonic surprise. They work particularly well as accompaniment to melodies that are […]

Controlling the Mood of Your Song With Altered Chords

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • Build Your Audience Base with“The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle – available now at a 50% savings! ________________________________ Every major key has seven chords that occur naturally in that key. Of those ones, three […]

Pump Up Your Progressions with Altered Chords

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” You might be surprised by how close a failing song is to being a winner. Do you know all the essential secrets of songwriting? Click here to read more. _____________________ Anytime you use a chord that includes a note not normally found in the chosen […]