26 Songs That Only Use Two Chords

แชร์
ฝัง
  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มิ.ย. 2024
  • It's fairly rare for a song to be based on only two chords. But what is particularly interesting is that, when you do find an example of a two chord song, it will almost always be using one of only a handful of chord progressions!
    Listen to "Running Man" on TH-cam: • 'Running Man' 🎹 Jazz-F...
    Stream my new EP "The Longest March" at Spotify: sptfy.com/davidbennett
    or download it at Bandcamp: davidbennettpiano.bandcamp.com/
    An extra special thanks goes to Vidad Flowers, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇
    SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: / davidbennettpiano
    0:00 Introduction
    0:23 I - V
    3:05 I - IV
    5:52 I - ii
    7:23 i - v
    8:57 "Dreams" is not a 2 chord song
    9:43 is "Tomorrow Never Knows" a 2 chord song?
    12:19 Outro

ความคิดเห็น • 2.8K

  • @kyotocoversjimanderson782
    @kyotocoversjimanderson782 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5941

    Reminds me of the joke: A rock giant plays 3 chords in front of 30,000 people; a jazz giant plays 30,000 chords in front of 3 people.

    • @seanmcaleavy2369
      @seanmcaleavy2369 3 ปีที่แล้ว +418

      Question: How many jazz musicians does it take to change a lightbulb?
      Answer: None. Fuck the changes!

    • @kackers
      @kackers 3 ปีที่แล้ว +281

      i didn't read the first "giant" initially so i got really confused as to why a rock would be playing chords for 30,000 people

    • @zsch999
      @zsch999 3 ปีที่แล้ว +121

      I read a giant rock at first and was like what¿

    • @neiloflongbeck5705
      @neiloflongbeck5705 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Status Quo said 3 chords and 30 years or 30 chords and 3 years

    • @lazylasagna5596
      @lazylasagna5596 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      sounds like Green Day

  • @georgecarmody8731
    @georgecarmody8731 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5241

    "One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz"- Lou Reed

    • @thesuncollective1475
      @thesuncollective1475 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      I like that! Couldn't agree mo'

    • @TheCelticbeast
      @TheCelticbeast 3 ปีที่แล้ว +76

      The only song I know with one cord is Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue. Surely one cord modern pop songs would be difficult.

    • @monoscopes
      @monoscopes 3 ปีที่แล้ว +58

      It's the same man who wrote Candy Says which has a boatload of chords, though.

    • @wozzywick
      @wozzywick 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      @@TheCelticbeast Some funk songs are only one chord

    • @howie9751
      @howie9751 3 ปีที่แล้ว +60

      Rock n Roll is three chords, four at the most. Five they have you up before the committee-Pete Townsend.

  • @jacobpullen6949
    @jacobpullen6949 3 ปีที่แล้ว +908

    505 by Arctic Monkeys is a great example of a song with 2 chords being driven by dynamics instead of chord changes

    • @cheebab7068
      @cheebab7068 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      yep.

    • @FabioBrachtPlus
      @FabioBrachtPlus 2 ปีที่แล้ว +66

      Was about to comment this. I was very impressed when I tried to learn how to play the song and found out it was just two chords. It sounds much bigger

    • @eel9096
      @eel9096 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      woa I never even noticed it was only two chords, it doesn't even sound too repetetive at all

    • @pikpik3044
      @pikpik3044 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      i remember try to look up the chords for that song and was shocked to find out it's only Em and Dm,love the song tho,one of my fav!

    • @unreborn
      @unreborn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That’s the exact reason I clicked this video, I was hoping I would see it here

  • @Zosojuan
    @Zosojuan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1092

    I know nothing about music theory or song structure but I do be watching these videos as if I'm part of the club

    • @aryasenaputra3226
      @aryasenaputra3226 3 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      You are part of the club man

    • @PretzelPunch
      @PretzelPunch 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      i’m slowly learning

    • @GBisveryconfused
      @GBisveryconfused 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Same

    • @mjl.9-19
      @mjl.9-19 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      If you can hear you’re in the club

    • @tacobenny695
      @tacobenny695 2 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      @@mjl.9-19 bro poor Beethoven

  • @teamyordle23
    @teamyordle23 3 ปีที่แล้ว +413

    A two chord song that I find really scary is Nirvana's "Something In The way" Throughout the whole song Kurt just plays Em and C/G. In the verse he plays them as broken chords but when the chorus kicks in he strums them.

    • @kimfoghjensen9705
      @kimfoghjensen9705 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      They also play Molly's lips by the Vaseline.. (G and C)

    • @leeturton9254
      @leeturton9254 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The guitar tuned down a whole step for that one?... pretty sure it is... sounds low on the mtv show

    • @12presspart
      @12presspart 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      montego bay is another two chord song

    • @thisisawsome34253212
      @thisisawsome34253212 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The arrangement on the album version is different than the MTV Unplugged performance.
      The verses use F#5 and D5 power chords on strings 5-6, while the choruses use F#sus4 on strings 3-6 and D5 on strings 2-6.
      I got this from Harmonix.

    • @Sonot.intoit
      @Sonot.intoit 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@thisisawsome34253212 I think its because Kurt's guitar was tuned down a halfstep for once

  • @galll_0375
    @galll_0375 3 ปีที่แล้ว +588

    Hope you will talk about Paperback Writer, because when I discovered it was only a two chords song my mind was blown

    • @DanThomasUK
      @DanThomasUK 3 ปีที่แล้ว +68

      Eleanor Rigby too

    • @galll_0375
      @galll_0375 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@DanThomasUK yeah too! Em and C if I remember correctly

    • @thesuncollective1475
      @thesuncollective1475 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Me too...it sounds more complex

    • @galll_0375
      @galll_0375 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@thesuncollective1475 EXACTLY, especially for all those armonies. It sounded like something quite complicated, that's why I was almost shocked when I found out it was just 2 chords

    • @jamesadcock5235
      @jamesadcock5235 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I agree the simplicity is crazy. Another one is hello goodbye ok 3 chords but what an original sounding song that is that simple

  • @BartekJC
    @BartekJC 3 ปีที่แล้ว +928

    Pink is like: "Amateurs!", releasing Get The Party Started with only one chord

    • @SarahElisabethJoyal
      @SarahElisabethJoyal 3 ปีที่แล้ว +84

      "Put the Lime in the Coconut" did it 30 years before

    • @QUANTUMMUSIC101
      @QUANTUMMUSIC101 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      EPIC!

    • @CARTERY0UNG
      @CARTERY0UNG 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I know it’s

    • @ironmaidenjr.8471
      @ironmaidenjr.8471 3 ปีที่แล้ว +38

      Primus is like: "Amateurs!", releasing My Name Is Mud featuring a 0 note riff

    • @jayphilpot2909
      @jayphilpot2909 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@ironmaidenjr.8471 bold of you to assume Primus would say amateurs in a coherent language

  • @davidserlin8097
    @davidserlin8097 3 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    “The Great Gig in the Sky” on Dark Side of the Moon is essentially a two chord song - Gmin and C7 - framed by a lovely intro and outro. Midway through the two chord structure peaks and needs return to the intro as a transition/rest so that it doesn’t go off the rails. But it proves the point about how effective two chords can be!

    • @bypig
      @bypig ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Isn't there a f major 7

    • @davidserlin8097
      @davidserlin8097 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@bypig I think it moves from an Fmaj before settling into the main section.

    • @rosiefay7283
      @rosiefay7283 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      "the two chord structure peaks and needs return to the intro as a transition/rest" So the piece is more than those two chords. There is tension and release quite apart from the alternation of those two chords. That's a point of interest you don't get when there are only two chords throughout.

    • @blaisevillaume9051
      @blaisevillaume9051 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@rosiefay7283 It reads like you are trying to 'correct' the OP by making basically the same point he made you just invert the emphasis.

  • @ThomasNimmesgern
    @ThomasNimmesgern 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1192

    In his next episode: 2 Songs That Only Use Twentysix Chords

  • @foofpilled
    @foofpilled 3 ปีที่แล้ว +374

    “Something in the Way” by Nirvana is another great example. Shows how two chords can go a long way in conveying emotion.

    • @xabiermartel4837
      @xabiermartel4837 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      I was waiting for this one. I love it because the two chord progression helps to build the feeling that the song demands

    • @BradsGonnaPlay
      @BradsGonnaPlay 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      The way he sings, the progression, the tone of the guitar, oof every part of that composition/recording is perfect for such a simple idea.

    • @jasminericenic
      @jasminericenic 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Molly’s Lips is another 2 chord song by Nirvana which isn’t as emotional, yet it’s still energetic

    • @kristoffmarquez8541
      @kristoffmarquez8541 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      About a girl its only Em G

    • @egheitipeturpesi
      @egheitipeturpesi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@kristoffmarquez8541 along with C#, G#, F#, A and C, for a total of 7 chords.

  • @christopherbennett4475
    @christopherbennett4475 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    If I’m not mistaken, America’s “A Horse With No Name” (1971) is two chords: Em and D6/9. Peaked at #1 in the U.S. and Canada, #3 in the U.K.

  • @TAVCE
    @TAVCE 3 ปีที่แล้ว +97

    I just want to say, thank you so much for these videos! My music teacher shows us these all the time and I find them really intuitive and easy to understand! The animations and explanation of how the chords actually work instead of just how they sound really helps so thank you and keep up the amazing work!

  • @hayleigh7354
    @hayleigh7354 3 ปีที่แล้ว +463

    also there’s 505 by arctic monkeys, it just goes from E minor to D minor for the whole song

    • @checkYVELLUAP
      @checkYVELLUAP 3 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      it was in the songs using only minor chords video, along with sing, moves like jagger and some more where most of the songs had 1 or 2 chords

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +111

      Good example! I mentioned it in my minor chords video too 🙂🙂

    • @darthmuki2674
      @darthmuki2674 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Also the sea shanty "the drunken sailor" switches between E minor and D major the wile time

    • @diogodelacruz
      @diogodelacruz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      that's where you're wrong

    • @Stoneador
      @Stoneador 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I was looking for this song to be in this video, glad others appreciate how good it is with how simple it’s chord structure is. If you’re asking what the songs structure is, if it’s E minor and D minor the song should be in the key of C and so it should be iii-ii. I have a very limited education in music so I might be completely wrong, but since the iii and ii chords share notes with other common chords, I think it may function similarly to the I-IV progression maybe?

  • @DavidBennettPiano
    @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +128

    📍NOTE: When uploaded, this video had a section looking at three songs that use a "i - bVII" progression, however, I've now decided to remove that section. In the section in question I chose to describe that progression as "vi V" and, on reflection, that was actually quite a confusing way to analyse it so I thought it best that I remove the segment entirely to avoid anyone getting the wrong end of the stick. The three songs by the way were "A Horse With No Name" by America, "Break on Through" by The Doors and "Masters of War" by Bob Dylan 😊 Thanks as always for your support!

    • @MostlyEarTraining
      @MostlyEarTraining 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      thanks for this, I was a bit confused by that bit.

    • @Testgeraeusch
      @Testgeraeusch 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Why use a major scale at all? It sounds weird.

    • @scottkunghadrengsen2604
      @scottkunghadrengsen2604 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thank you, that was going to be my question..

    • @EssentialHealthCT
      @EssentialHealthCT 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Now I want a refund

    • @joshuarona
      @joshuarona 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      another song that sits on "i"->->bVII" is U2's Bullet The Blue Sky. also notable for the chord length being asymetrical (3 beats to 1 in each measure)

  • @BrokeAtBestMusic
    @BrokeAtBestMusic 2 ปีที่แล้ว +110

    "Chords, Scales.....it just gets in the way" - Kurt Cobain, who also wrote Something In The Way.

    • @judas.
      @judas. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@davidmcanally8272 they were talking about a different song

    • @PopSircle
      @PopSircle 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@davidmcanally8272 the song it's called something in the way

    • @eternalroots6753
      @eternalroots6753 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The chords and scales were that very something that were the way

    • @freebee8221
      @freebee8221 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      He was a genius, he didnt need to know any scales coz he had a great ear and he knew what sounds good and what doesnt

    • @AZANlA
      @AZANlA 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@freebee8221 that feels made up

  • @johnpeace971
    @johnpeace971 2 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    Careful With That Axe Eugene has one chord: Dm. It's a study in dynamic

    • @normg2242
      @normg2242 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You're right, I never realized that until now that you say it...!

    • @reybot5125
      @reybot5125 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      The band called it “the one chord wonder” before they recorded it. Honestly one of my favorites of theirs

  • @ThinWhiteAxe
    @ThinWhiteAxe 3 ปีที่แล้ว +148

    Ngl I clicked because I saw Paul McCartney but stayed for the musical analysis which I found very cool and interesting, good job

  • @InventorZahran
    @InventorZahran 3 ปีที่แล้ว +489

    Woody Guthrie: "If you're playing more than two chords, you're just showin' off."

    • @earnestthompson5136
      @earnestthompson5136 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Brilliant!

    • @MiaowMcDonald
      @MiaowMcDonald 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      awesome. love woody guthrie

    • @randybackgammon890
      @randybackgammon890 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Well that rules out 90%of great records man

    • @tutortle1820
      @tutortle1820 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Till there was you & Something

    • @BassandoForte
      @BassandoForte 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ironically it's only US singer/songwriters who say that... 🤣🤣

  • @frankboogaard88
    @frankboogaard88 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Read a bit through the comments and I have to comment:
    2 Chord songs are a pretty good foundation for any song. What most people forget is that other chords can be played over those 2 by other instrumentalists, creating a plethora (probably spelled that wrong) of chords ;)
    (Edit: as an example, in an interview, when asked about the Chord progression in some Beatles songs, George Harrisson answered: Well it all depends on what note Paul was playing on the bass.)

    • @Myrtone
      @Myrtone ปีที่แล้ว

      'So what' By Miles Davis, which has been mentioned in some other videos on this channel, uses two chords but is not mentioned in this video. However, in that case, both chords are tonic.

  • @ibalrog
    @ibalrog 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Including the Moldy Peaches made me smile. They made the most of some pretty spare compositions!

  • @TheBeatBrothersBand
    @TheBeatBrothersBand 3 ปีที่แล้ว +108

    The amount of music that can be squeezed out of minimal two or three chord chord progressions is truly amazing

    • @BlueGrenadeTom
      @BlueGrenadeTom 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I know - but everything you’ve ever seen - every painting, photo, actually everything! - all of reality really - that you can visually perceive is made up of just three colours and some light or dark (light, really). Everything you’ve ever watched, seen or heard on your computer/tablet/phone, TV whatever - every film, song, picture, game, website is all just squeezed out of 1s and 0s. It makes three chords (so I guess at least six notes) seem an embarrassment of riches 🤯

    • @brendanoneil3489
      @brendanoneil3489 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BlueGrenadeTom nine notes - three triads 'powerchords' don't really count..

    • @BlueGrenadeTom
      @BlueGrenadeTom ปีที่แล้ว

      @@brendanoneil3489 And yet so many guitar-based songs use only power chords. That’s why I said “at least”.

    • @brendanoneil3489
      @brendanoneil3489 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BlueGrenadeTom ok stupid me .

  • @reigerm.j.4160
    @reigerm.j.4160 3 ปีที่แล้ว +109

    "Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles is a one chord song.

    • @MICKEYISLOWD
      @MICKEYISLOWD 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      And they still wrote a masterpiece:)

    • @reigerm.j.4160
      @reigerm.j.4160 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@MICKEYISLOWD yesss

    • @TimmyTickle
      @TimmyTickle 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      As is Bad Religion by Godsmack (according to Crash Thompson)

    • @felipecardoza9967
      @felipecardoza9967 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Technically, it's two. Listen again.

    • @tutortle1820
      @tutortle1820 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@felipecardoza9967 how about revolution 9?

  • @LTPXQ
    @LTPXQ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    When I teach guitar I tell each student that I'll have them able to play a song in 15 minutes. I teach D and A and "He's got the whole world in His hands." They love it. Now you've given me a larger library to choose from. I'll still do Whole World but now I've got something fun for the second lesson. Like Give Peace a Chance. Thanx

  • @williamepperson3443
    @williamepperson3443 2 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    "One chord is good enough,
    Two chords & your pushing it,
    Three chords & You might as well be playing jazz . . ." - Lou Reed

    • @capsuleboy
      @capsuleboy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      yes man, but then you listen to the banana album and you notice they just smoke some weed and stand playing 2 chords for five minutes.. and you think "This is the gloriuous album?, cmon!"

    • @polarski2
      @polarski2 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Stolen comment

    • @BlueGrenadeTom
      @BlueGrenadeTom 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      But when that chord change finally comes - wooah…!!!

  • @eminelyakubi1411
    @eminelyakubi1411 3 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    In that case, Eleanor Rigby is only two chords, there are variations of E when it gets to the "All the lonely people" section. Otherwise, the song only uses Em and C.

  • @TenThumbsProductions
    @TenThumbsProductions 3 ปีที่แล้ว +548

    Love it! Two chords songs are my favorite songs to write, too. I have a two chord playlist on my channel for ukulele learners. I also love to write them because they are great for jamming and they lend themself really well to hip-hop and rap/rock vibes.

    • @TenThumbsProductions
      @TenThumbsProductions 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      One that didn't make the list is "River Runs Deep" by JJ Cale, I love that song.

    • @jabulani9999
      @jabulani9999 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Boring tho

    • @Chris-MusicTheoryAndFretboard
      @Chris-MusicTheoryAndFretboard 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      @@jabulani9999 Not really because adding more chords wouldn't necessarily improve any of these songs. Don't be snob. Enjoy all kinds of music. It's not hard.

    • @martimribeiro7538
      @martimribeiro7538 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@Chris-MusicTheoryAndFretboard i guess its hard for you to enjoy real music..

    • @binho2010ish
      @binho2010ish 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@martimribeiro7538 He didn't say it was bad.My music teacher used to tell me the same thing.

  • @laundryroom9002
    @laundryroom9002 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I just stumbled over this channel last week and I've watched every single video. This is a fantastic channel, please do not stop creating content because this is great. Thank you.

  • @williamwallace234
    @williamwallace234 3 ปีที่แล้ว +84

    "-Even in pop music..." wow opening with some *shade*

  • @ConnorBrightSonix
    @ConnorBrightSonix 3 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    "ultimately, chords are a construct" I just like that line out of context

  • @abbywolffe4114
    @abbywolffe4114 3 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    girl in red uses two chord songs a lot. Both "we fell in love in october" (Cmaj7, G) and "i wanna be your girlfriend" (Bm, G) are two chord songs

  • @ollycole4917
    @ollycole4917 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    As someone who's never never had any music theory training, I love the way you describe these chord changes in layman's terms and make it so easy to understand.

  • @violao206
    @violao206 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Tito Puente's Oye Como Va is another great example of a 2-chord structured song using a minor tonic and subdominant 7 chord which is so very prevalent in Latin music. As a crossover pop star, Carlos Santana kinda rode that horse into the ground.

  • @aaronclift
    @aaronclift 3 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    “We Started Nothing” by The Ting Tings is a lot like “Tomorrow Never Knows” in that it all sounds like a drone in one key (B minor) but technically has two chords (B5 and D5).

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Nice example!

    • @aaronclift
      @aaronclift 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@DavidBennettPiano thanks. I could list a lot more songs by the group - they seem to really like 2 chord songs.

    • @anthonyoresteen4767
      @anthonyoresteen4767 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      B5 & D5 are not chords. They are intervals as they have only 2 notes (missing the 3rd). While they have been described as "power" chords by some they still are just intervals - loud.

    • @dondamon4669
      @dondamon4669 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Point is??

    • @anthonyoresteen4767
      @anthonyoresteen4767 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dondamon4669 Calling something with the wrong term is bad educational practice. When you play two notes together that is an interval. When you play 3 or more notes together it is a chord. Calling a bicycle a tricycle is clearly wrong. Ditto for calling an interval a chord.

  • @securityrobot
    @securityrobot 3 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    John Cages 4:33 doesn’t use any chords. I wonder if it’s available as a download from Spotify and what it costs to do so?

    • @InventorZahran
      @InventorZahran 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      4:33 is the only free song included with every purchase of headphones or speakers! To listen to it, simply stop any other audio that may be playing. You don't need a music streaming service or even an internet connection to listen to 4:33...

    • @dirkrottke523
      @dirkrottke523 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      You can play it yourself. Anytime , everywhere. Without rehersing it. :-)

    • @deliusmyth5063
      @deliusmyth5063 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Wrong, it has all chords, played simultaneously. That's what you get.

    • @Caedes-rex
      @Caedes-rex 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Bad joke

    • @RR-qv8uz
      @RR-qv8uz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It’s definitely on SPOTIFY!

  • @kylekisebach3966
    @kylekisebach3966 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I'm trying to learn guitar and these videos really enrich the process, thank you.

  • @ericoberlies7537
    @ericoberlies7537 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    In all fairness, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou) is a Hank Williams song, covered by The Carpenters. Also, the music behind “He Got Game” was Stephen Stills’s “For What It’s Worth”. Stills worked with Chuck D. in the studio, re-recording some of his vocal and guitar parts for the collaboration.

  • @conquerncam
    @conquerncam 3 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    “A song would be pretty boring if a song was always at rest”
    20th century funk: I’m 4 parallel universes ahead of you

  • @moistness482
    @moistness482 3 ปีที่แล้ว +274

    It's not about how many chords you use. It's about how you use them.

    • @earnestthompson5136
      @earnestthompson5136 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Amen!!!

    • @kellydalstok8900
      @kellydalstok8900 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Most of the examples at the beginning of the video are very boring.

    • @moistness482
      @moistness482 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@kellydalstok8900 I didn't even watch the vid if I'm being honest. But I will

    • @soulofash2112
      @soulofash2112 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Inb4 "Gilmour says more with 5 notes than Batio says with 500."

    • @carlolaison
      @carlolaison 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Damn, we really do live in a society...

  • @gutocandido
    @gutocandido 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    As always, a high effort and a quality video. Thanks, David.

  • @TresLanes
    @TresLanes ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Don't forget "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone. It has the extra bonus of only 1 note on the bass for the entire song!

  • @jasonremy1627
    @jasonremy1627 3 ปีที่แล้ว +88

    "Jane Says" by Jane's Addiction is another two chord song.

    • @jaerivus
      @jaerivus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I'm only halfway through this video, but I've been waiting for that mention. Guess it isn't coming!

    • @MrHarpette
      @MrHarpette 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah i was hoping for Jane Says but it ain't in there. First time i heard it it reminded me of Led Zep's Over the hills and far away ; i kept waiting for the 3rd chord but it didn't come, so after a while i knew it wasn't coming at all. Then i grew to love that song.

    • @dereknolin5986
      @dereknolin5986 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Are you thinking of a different song? Over the Hills has many more than two chords in it.

    • @MrHarpette
      @MrHarpette 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dereknolin5986 I meant the chorus part of that song. But yeah, even if you take it whole, it has more than 2 chords. Never mind: you had to be there.

    • @Walrus286
      @Walrus286 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Built to Spill - The Wait

  • @BillMcGirr
    @BillMcGirr 3 ปีที่แล้ว +97

    Yet another extremely interesting video.
    I’m always pulling a little knowledge from your analysis.
    And I’m thankful for it.💪🎸👍🥃

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Thanks! 😃😃😃

    • @BillMcGirr
      @BillMcGirr 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@DavidBennettPiano
      You sir... are very welcome.🤘

  • @thatsoundsawbro7498
    @thatsoundsawbro7498 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I was not expecting to find Heaven Is a Halfpipe here! Wow!! Well done!!!

  • @robertabitbol6454
    @robertabitbol6454 2 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    As usual a very intelligent video! WOW! It goes to show that you can make hits with two chords. I have to say this is the best music lesson I took in my life! Keep it up young man, you're a great music teacher.

  • @xybervid
    @xybervid 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    As always a fabulous and seamless blend of teaching, production and musicianship. Such a treat!

  • @reneholly7994
    @reneholly7994 3 ปีที่แล้ว +59

    A few other 2-chord songs are "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by The Kennedys, "(She Thinks She's) Edith Head" by They Might Be Giants, & "Once In a Lifetime" by Talking Heads.

    • @Tyler53Durden
      @Tyler53Durden 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Once in a lifetime’s outro is 3 chords. 5 different chords in the whole song.

    • @reneholly7994
      @reneholly7994 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Tyler53Durden I only ever heard D & G.

    • @handsomedevil4928
      @handsomedevil4928 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Guitars Cadillacs by Dwight Yoakam

    • @joelschama1735
      @joelschama1735 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Really? Once in a Lifetime chords: A, D, F#, G, by my maths that's four chords.

  • @SGBassplayer
    @SGBassplayer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    My favorite two-chord song: "Love Me", by Love and Rockets from the 1985 album "Express". It uses a different interval than discussed in this video, I and VI, and both are major.

  • @michaelthomas6570
    @michaelthomas6570 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Kings of Leon have a lot of 2 chord songs. Sex on Fire uses a progression you didn’t talk about here: EM - C#m, aka I - vi
    For the refrain, they sneak a cadential A chord in, but like you mentioned in the second to last song in this video, there’s a lot of mileage out of just those two chords.

  • @Rednef
    @Rednef 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant springs to mind.

  • @GagasAlGhazali
    @GagasAlGhazali 3 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    this channel is brilliant im able to learn tidbits of music theory because it is explained in a very understandable way, keep it up david!

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Thank you 😃

    • @jameslangridge1674
      @jameslangridge1674 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@DavidBennettPiano Thank you so much for explaining this so simply. I have been trying to understand this concept for years now and although I now know which chords go nicely together, I never learnt why.

  • @uberdonkey9721
    @uberdonkey9721 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is really helping me understand bass lines. Thankyou so much.

  • @alexiscozon3675
    @alexiscozon3675 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for explaining so well how harmony works. Would have loved to discover thoses videos at music shool when i was younger.

  • @marcjacobson757
    @marcjacobson757 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Any day David Bennett posts a video is a day I learn something new.

  • @linseyspolidoro5122
    @linseyspolidoro5122 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Oh man, that song Jambalaya just gave me a wallop of nostalgia to the face that I didn’t realize I even had. My mom used to listen to this compilation album on her record player while she cooked when I was a kid and that song was on it, though I think it was the Hank Williams version.

  • @youthofyesterdayrecords
    @youthofyesterdayrecords 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I know that "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac has that other movement before the second verse...but otherwise, that has to be my favorite 2 chord song.

  • @paulbalogh4582
    @paulbalogh4582 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wonderful work mate! I learned a goodly number of bits here.

  • @robster7316
    @robster7316 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Always look forward to David’s next video installment. Once again, it was well worth the wait!😊

  • @Jup1terr
    @Jup1terr 3 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    Love the Velvet Underground. Lou Reed uses the 1 to 4 all the time

    • @jan_Travis
      @jan_Travis 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Love VU! Heroin was my first velvet song. Sister Ray may be my favorite of them but God they are all good. European Son, Waiting for my Man, Sunday Morning, entirety of White Light White Heat. Too many.

    • @felixmarques
      @felixmarques 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I got really bored with VU the first time I listened to them precisely because a whole bunch of the songs were the same. I love “Sunday Morning” or “All Tomorrow's Parties” but…

  • @fernansi2940
    @fernansi2940 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fantastic as always... Bravo david

  • @jonfuzz6321
    @jonfuzz6321 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazing video finally understand so many things! Thank you so much

  • @inbzz
    @inbzz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    "Send My Love" by Adele uses two chords that uses only a major and relative minor chord.

  • @melanieschonert1629
    @melanieschonert1629 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    It’s incredible, your videos are visually as well as content related always on point and extraordinarily high quality! Thanks for your time and effort you´re investing in this.

  • @catalina5711
    @catalina5711 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i thought this would finally be a radioheadless video but david always manages to fit them in somehow

  • @cristianaguilar8445
    @cristianaguilar8445 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent Mister David !! greets from Mexico !! blessings!! :)

  • @badgasaurus4211
    @badgasaurus4211 3 ปีที่แล้ว +93

    “Songbird” by Oasis is G to Em7 and back again (albeit with a walk down/up between the chords)

    • @keithlucero3638
      @keithlucero3638 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      That's one of my favorite songs to play on guitar (because it's easy)

    • @AdrianJustRocks
      @AdrianJustRocks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      There are plenty of tunes that rotate between major tonic chord and relative minor vi, it’s a trope of blues

    • @alilotfi7974
      @alilotfi7974 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@AdrianJustRocks do you have any example ?

    • @spoonoasisbeatles3119
      @spoonoasisbeatles3119 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@keithlucero3638 haha same

    • @spodoinklehorse
      @spodoinklehorse 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      D?

  • @MrSamas13
    @MrSamas13 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great lesson

  • @russallen2011
    @russallen2011 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video. I play bass so I am constantly altering the nature of the chords being played and adding more steps between changes. This makes me want to practice along to these songs and see if I can change the feelings using one bass note per change.

  • @Fluteboy
    @Fluteboy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    A lot of Simply Red songs were built _largely_ on two chords, but I can count five that only used two throughout: *Holding Back The Years, Red Box, She'll Have To Go, Something Got Me Started* and *Wonderland.*

  • @unepommeverte17
    @unepommeverte17 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    i've been a band kid for literally 2/3 of my life and i'm finally starting to understand how chords work lol

  • @thismoment9180
    @thismoment9180 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Your explanation of music theory is clear, concise, knowledgeable, and engaging. Keep up the great work!

  • @fcampanini
    @fcampanini 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very clear and well done!

  • @habdenkanalvoll8489
    @habdenkanalvoll8489 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi David, awesome job and a great channel. Would you mind letting us know what kind of software you are using in order to make these cool visuals of the symbols and such? Thx.

  • @tcn1961
    @tcn1961 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    A classic two-chord wonder is "Pushin' Too Hard" by the Seeds.

    • @earnestthompson5136
      @earnestthompson5136 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Yeah 60’s rock ...a lost...nearly lost classic!

  • @jakemilburn
    @jakemilburn 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    I’m taking AP music theory currently, and I just learned that usually 11 are supposed to omit the 3rd and 5th, which in my opinion just makes this chord even more controversial because that’s exactly what the Beatles are doing, and we have no clue if this is intentionally a C11 chord or made to be a VII with a C drone.

    • @johanneschristopherstahle3395
      @johanneschristopherstahle3395 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Usually it's not supposed to drop the 3rd. Dropping the 3rd transforms it into a Csus4 add 7/9 (or just sus9, if you take for granted that sus=sus4).

    • @MaggaraMarine
      @MaggaraMarine 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@cliffpinchon2832 This. If the song is played over a drone, then you can play a lot of chords over that drone, but it will still basically feel like one harmonic function. In classical, this would be called "tonic prolongation" or "dominant prolongation", depending on whether the pedal point is the dominant or tonic.
      Should we call this "one chord"? That's debatable. I think when it comes to the Beatles example, you have a clear contrast between the two chords.
      BTW, the actual chord isn't Bb major over C. I'm also hearing an Eb in that chord. It's either Ebsus2 (or Bbsus4) or Bbadd11 (not 100% sure if I'm even hearing a D natural in that chord). The inclusion of Eb gives it even more contrast, because it basically goes from minor to major. So, to me, this justifies calling it a different chord.
      But all in all, I think even if there wasn't an Eb in the chord, and it was just regular Bb major, I think it's still justifiable to call it two chords. It's two chords over a pedal point. The Bb chord isn't actually heard as a "C11 chord". In this case, it's heard as "Bb played over C drone". You can have chords that are kind of independent of the bassline.
      Is it a different function? That's a different discussion. When it comes to functions, then I would say that it's basically all just tonic. But there's still a clear contrast between the two chords, so I actually think they aren't even functionally exactly the same. But this isn't traditionally functional music any way - the harmony doesn't create a sense of direction. "Tonic prolongation" is only meaningful term if the harmony is traditionally functional, and you expect it to move somewhere.

    • @MaggaraMarine
      @MaggaraMarine 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@cliffpinchon2832 I only called it "Ebsus2" or "Bbsus4" (over C in the bass), because that's the conventional way of labeling the collection of notes that is Eb F Bb (that I'm hearing). As I said, I'm not sure if I'm even hearing a D in that chord. Either it's Eb F Bb, or D Eb F Bb (which would be Bbadd11, over a C in the bass - or maybe Cm11 if you treat the C as a "chord tone"). If I want to use a conventional chord symbol for that chord, then that's the proper chord symbol, even though I understand it isn't an actual suspension. (In other words, my labeling of it as Ebsus2 or whatever is not an analysis. It's just a label for a collection of notes.) I actually don't have a jazz background. I understand the basics of jazz theory and have played some jazz, but my "formal training" is actually classical.
      I don't analyze it as a suspended chord. I just label it as Ebsus2 because that's the conventional chord symbol for the collection of notes it uses. As I already said in my previous post, I think the purpose of that chord is to provide some contrast over the pedal point (which you also seemed to agree with). I would call it a "different chord" because it adds a pretty clear contrast.
      Honestly, I don't see how what you just said differs in any way of what I said in my previous post.

    • @MaggaraMarine
      @MaggaraMarine 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@cliffpinchon2832 I agree, Ebsus2 is not a classical label, but it is a chord symbol that is used all the time in "chord symbol notation". And that notation system is quite standardized, so I would call it "conventional" in that way (there are other conventions than just the "classical convention"). We aren't talking about classical music any way, so using pop chord labels is pretty standard. I wouldn't use that chord label if I was analyzing classical music (since in classical context, Eb F Bb would not really function as an individual chord) but this is a pop song, not a song that follows the principles of common practice period harmony.
      Chord symbols are simply a fast way of referring to a collection of notes. Ebsus2 is a fast way of referring to the collection of notes that is Eb F Bb. So, if I say I'm hearing a collection of notes that is Eb F Bb, why would I not say I'm hearing an "Ebsus2"? That is not an analysis or anything - it's just a practical label for a collection of notes. Labeling things on its own is not analysis.
      If there's both Eb and D in the chord, then Ebsus2 is not a good label for it, though. Bbadd11 would make more sense, or maybe Cm11.
      _"There's a very good reason for that too -- it's objectively better"_
      It's only better for analyzing a specific kind of music that is music that is based on functional harmony. This song is not based on traditional functional harmony. I do like roman numerals, but they were mainly designed for analyzing music that's based on common practice period harmony. This particular song isn't based on it, and I really don't see how much roman numeral analysis would explain about this song, since there is mostly just one chord. Roman numerals can also be used as "practical" labels for understanding the relationship between the chords and the key, and making them easily transposable (and in that case, calling this chord a bVII chord over the tonic in bass is fine), but if the song doesn't use traditional functional harmony, then roman numerals as an analytical tool don't really explain that much.
      As I already said in my first post, my analysis of the chord is that it provides some contrast. It''s not functional in the traditional way, but it still has a function that is other than the "home chord". It provides some form of harmonic tension and release, even though it's all played over the same bass note.

  • @ryangunwitch-black
    @ryangunwitch-black 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good video and good teaching. Thanks!

  • @Thiakovsky
    @Thiakovsky 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good job!
    Thank you!

  • @Mikino1976
    @Mikino1976 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    Great observations. How about:
    Jump into the Fire - Harry Nilsson
    LA Woman - The Doors

    • @WhozWolfgang
      @WhozWolfgang 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      LA Woman has more than 2 chords

    • @daviddockery8962
      @daviddockery8962 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      LA Woman has two chords for most of the song but there are parts of the song with other changes

    • @daviddockery8962
      @daviddockery8962 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @mark jagger yeah

  • @kalvino67
    @kalvino67 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I love the way you incorporate at least one Beatles song into most of your videos! 😀 Great vid as always!!

  • @TWayneD1020
    @TWayneD1020 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you so much for this information !!!

  • @nataliyakravchenko4994
    @nataliyakravchenko4994 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    David, you compose beautyful music. Thank you.

  • @meirihareven5092
    @meirihareven5092 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Heroin is one of my favorite songs. A great use of just two chords

    • @inyoface5456
      @inyoface5456 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I too love heroin. But what are these chords you mentioned?

    • @astroandyborgloh
      @astroandyborgloh 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      "Heroin" uses chords ... ;-) ?

  • @wristbreak
    @wristbreak 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Amazing video

  • @GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy
    @GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sweet City Woman by The Stampeders (1973) is a great song that uses only two chords in the verse and chorus: G Am Am G ( for the most part, as there is a C and D chord in the bridge )

  • @Bozcard
    @Bozcard 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent video. More informative than I expected.

  • @elrabeechum5180
    @elrabeechum5180 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Hey David, ‘Running Man’ is really nice! Thanks for sharing your work!

  • @hrafnhildurblondal341
    @hrafnhildurblondal341 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    What a great video, this has answered so many of my questions. I was never very good at musical analysis or theory or what have you, even when I was learning to play the piano as a child. Now I have a better understanding. Thank you David.

  • @Boyanbo
    @Boyanbo 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great video David!

  • @JohnNiemsMusic
    @JohnNiemsMusic 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    John Denver has SWEET SURRENDER - LEAVING ON A JET PLANE and SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER as almost 2 chord songs with SWEET SURRENDER being only 2 chords!
    Sweet Surrender John Denver Live In Australia (1994)

  • @NeonRadarMusic
    @NeonRadarMusic 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The Weeping Song by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds has only two chords, jumping between VI and V (which is very briefly replaced by a I at the end, but it's hardly noticeable). Hugely underrated track with a great melody and simple but layered lyrics.

  • @GasMaskReiter
    @GasMaskReiter 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I guess this proves that sometimes simplicity is all you need when working on songs

  • @scaho
    @scaho 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great video.I learned a ton from your channel and for that I thank you!
    I have Not an entirely two chord song but it certainly runs a-lot with only two chords. The song is “it’s you” by Zayn it goes from the tonic to the subdominant.

  • @dalebaker9109
    @dalebaker9109 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The piece of music at the end is so super cool David. Reminded of the type of cool piano used in the Charlie Brown Cartoons. Absolutely Ace David.

  • @Alina-fr5ye
    @Alina-fr5ye 3 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I really love your videos :))) like, a lot^^ I love music theory and I really really appreciate all the effort you put into your videos :D Keep up the great work! ^^

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Thank you so much Alina! That really means a lot 🙂🙂

    • @pinkajou656
      @pinkajou656 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I absolutely agree! It makes music theory so interesting for anyone!

    • @CliveHandy
      @CliveHandy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ditto, very informative and beautifully put across in a very understandable way. Well done.

  • @JamieAndersonMusic
    @JamieAndersonMusic 3 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    One chord songs next? Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Chain of Fools, Run Through the Jungle

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      It’s on the list!

    • @hi_mynameis76
      @hi_mynameis76 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      When I saw this vid, I thought it was a continuation of another video Dave did, but then I realized mah boi Joel from Roomie Official did a one-chord song video.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Hi My Name Is yeah I did a video with Roomie about one chord songs, but I would still like to do one on my channel too 😃😃

    • @jaschul
      @jaschul 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      "Crosseyed and Painless" by Talking Heads

    • @SouthWestPanda
      @SouthWestPanda 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@DavidBennettPiano Will Sheryl Crow's Na Na Song get a mention?

  • @gijskanters7447
    @gijskanters7447 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    you have taught me more than my music teacher ive had for 8 years

  • @kappappa
    @kappappa 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Kraftwerk's The Model is my fave two chord song. Love the videos and glad I discovered your channel.

  • @rumar4u
    @rumar4u 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Most reggae roots songs are either based or 90% of the song is on 2 chords. Also there's some "cheaters" that add a quick rest as a passing by chord. Jon Mayer when Jamming cannot resist to have only 2 chords. :)

    • @mickeyrube6623
      @mickeyrube6623 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Speaking of Jamaican music, I often tell people that two-tone ska is called that because of the prominence of two chord vamps in the music! (in reality, I think the two-tones are black and white, that is black and white people coming together, but I could be wrong!)

  • @richarda6202
    @richarda6202 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Learnt something new today! Very informative on the effects that various chords produce and how they are sequenced to give a nice, smooth piece of music.

  • @darcyj19
    @darcyj19 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    When Love Comes to Town, by U2. E and A. Now it is open to interpretation whether this is I-IV, which the verses s dwelling on E would suggest, or I-V in the chorus which begins on and emphasises A. Probably both - only two chords used but used to two different effects.

  • @thejacobean
    @thejacobean 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The way you do ads is perfect. Brief and relevant.