Songs that only use one chord

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Check out the full version of my one chord song here on my 2nd channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2fPlYBoZ7mEhtk 🎹

[@nidannicigov8263]

Also “Song for Sonny Liston” by Knopfler uses one chord (check out the live Roadrunning version)

[@vanfamily44]

#playwithskooveandkorg interesting video. Congrats on your channel! I find all your music theory videos interesting and engaging. Best of luck with your channel!

[@hfghguuh]

Thanks for the vid and give away. Just might make a monochord song. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@titanicsinclair]

So you’re telling me if I comment #PlaywithSkooveandKorg I’ll also be able to play piano just like David? Awesome video as always!

[@nickelabdellaoui6912]

I need that piano #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@maxwellclark2345]

“One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.” --Lou Reed (You weren't going to get away without someone mentioning this in the comments.)

[@EmiPianoMX]

Velvet Underground had some one chord songs, if I remember correctly... and the famous "ostrich guitar"

[@kevincowart362]

Who could argue with the genius responsible for Lulu

[@joecordingley7071]

It's strange that he should say that. Lou Reed chord progressions rock, but they're not always simple. Perfect Day stands out. Sweet Jane must be one of the most recognisable chord progressions in rock music, it's not jazz but it's not two chords either.

[@aestheticaltwat]

@@joecordingley7071, it shouldn’t be taken literal.

[@KurtGAndersen]

@@joecordingley7071 True! Perfect Day has a whole bunch of chords.

[@Ashlett337]

I love how you use examples from a variety of genres and don't judge any kind of music as inherently inferior or unworthy of analysis. And how you show that music doesn't have to be complicated to be compelling

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😃😃😃

[@carlybun231]

this person gets it (:

[@cleangamer220]

@@DavidBennettPiano 😃😃😃

[@sieteocho]

Yes and no. David Bennett is only ever going to use classical music analysis on all types of music, and there are many times when you'd miss the point ... ever notice that many of these songs which "only use one chord" are from African or Indian music traditions. Using only one chord would almost never pass muster in classical music - even "Bolero" is pushing boundaries. And am a little surprised that nobody's picked anything from techno or jungle to analyse over here. Many - not all, but many - elements from R&B and Jazz will use concepts that are entirely foreign to classical music and using classical music analysis is a bit like forcing a square peg into a round hole. Also isn't the changes to "Tomorrow Never Knows" modal?

[@sieteocho]

The central insight of pop music is: "is this catchy? Will somebody like it, will people latch on to it?" Classical music theory will tell you which chords are being played, it will teach you how to communicate some (not all) of the features of the music to somebody else. But it will not answer any of those questions at all.

[@charmelink]

I've just noticed why I've always liked David Bennet's videos... I get the feeling that he actually is here to teach us something instead of trying desperately to call our attention, unlike many other youtubers who rely heavily on annoying video transitions, gimmicks and unfunny lines

[@gabe_s_videos]

I find those kinds of videos to be really antisocial in nature, if not just tacky and immature. They don't feel like edutainment so much as one-sided conversations talking about some passionate opinion without the burden of letting someone else talk (they remind me of that line in The Producers, "SHUT UP! I'm having a rhetorical conversation with you!!"), or even standup comedy where you don't have to respond to the audience. I don't think of David's videos as edutainment, they're just really, really good educational videos. He said something in one of his more recent videos about how professionals "practice until they can't get it wrong," and he's clearly someone with enough personal experience as a professional musician that he doesn't need to be overly passionate or make jokes to prove his point. He proves his point just by demonstrating what he knows.

[@michellemonet4358]

Yes

[@dacidthorn]

Best 3 rules for making KZbin vids, 1 no long movie style intros 2 get to the point 3 don’t try being funny! This is a great example of doing it right

[@dn-anonymous]

Yes, great stuff with excellent examples

[@Srynan]

"A song doesnt have to have chord progression" I really felt that. I just love to sit on a chord and play it over and over, varying as little as one note from time to time...

[@georgeantonioandrei8570]

Oh are you a funk musician?

[@Srynan]

@@georgeantonioandrei8570 I dont think I qualify for Funk, I am just not very good at playing with the keyboard/not very versatile with my guitar yet and I like to sing along, so probably that is why I gravitate towards that. That said, I really just feel like some Chords have an almost hypnotic quality to them if played with little variations for a while, which I really enjoy.

[@donalmckenna3065]

@@Srynan this is the exact mentality that even some technically fantastic musicians take years to figure out. Never lose it

[@janetownley]

And a house doesn’t have to have a roof, or a car wheels. But it sure helps!

[@donalmckenna3065]

@@janetownley lmao music is not a car

[@ems7623]

The thing with those funk examples is that the base lines can often hint at other chords even if they aren't fully realized.

[@zackglickert4495]

i’d say a lot of this is up for interpretation. in my opinion a lot of these songs do have more chords

[@supremelordoftheuniverse5449]

This.

[@ElSantoLuchador]

That's the way they did it in delta blues too. Variations on the same chord. The thumb acting as bass with fingers playing the melody. It sounds intricate but then again playing a one chord isn't synonymous with easy (necessarily). In fact it's really hard to pull off, especially if it's not a ballad. What do you do when you come to the chorus? I agree with you.

[@toddfarkman2177]

you can play infinite bass lines using a single chord. You can also play a chord several ways as well. A single chord doesn't limit you as much as you'd think. But it's hard to write a symphony with 1 chord versus a 3 minute radio song. Or a song a DJ spins.

[@bsykesbeats]

Same thing with the pop examples.

[@heathmclaughlin]

This sorta stuff really makes you realize that a song is more of a feeling than anything else

[@johndrowe5281]

Paul McCartney was quoted in the mid-1960s as having said that he believed one could “hear an entire song in one note if [we] listened carefully enough…” If only I had that clarity ha ha ha! It does give a glimpse of how he views music as it comes through him. I think I would have to become a few shades more clever than I am ha ha. You are right - I believe it is a feeling more than anything else… Merry Christmas.

[@Ioganstone]

@@johndrowe5281 Hahaha what a concept!

[@johndrowe5281]

@@Ioganstone he may have been a wee “under the influence” when he said that🤷🏼‍♂️… Slainte!Cheers!😉😎🎸👨🏼‍⚕️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@dimlightbulb10]

@@johndrowe5281 Sounds like some acid trip gobbledygook to me.

[@johndrowe5281]

@@dimlightbulb10 he said it prior to LSD, but one never knows what else was being inhaled or ingested. Perhaps, in his defence, he may have been using a wee hyperbole 😊🫶✌️♾️. 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Zveebo]

Okay, I definitely wasn’t expecting you ever to cover WAP on your channel, David 😅

[@Ioganstone]

Oh, that's what you had to do WAP, didn't you. You had to go that far. Look where you are.

[@patricktervo2013]

One of my favorite songs does this too, Parquet Courts’ “Wide Awake.” It stays in G the whole time, with every riff centered around the G dorian scale.

[@xiugazer532]

Dawg I love your Instagram page

[@matthewkuechler8342]

You have the best music meme page

[@deft__12]

I didn’t know that, I thought the melody was the chord progression

[@dorsey7832]

yeah, that's cos their brain never pushes the brakes

[@evanpeterson4010]

Great song and album.

[@hamishlambert6550]

A lack of chords isn't necessarily a lack of harmony too. Harmony can be implied by melodies or basslines. The beautiful thing about that is that it leaves more to the interpretation of the listener, and therefor the song is in a sense a collaboration occurring in the minds of any listener.

[@stitchgrimly6167]

I thought that was a weird way to explain it too. A chord itself is a harmony just by virtue of being a chord.

[@NeonRadarMusic]

A lot of Swans' music is based on one chord. One of my all time favorites is Screen Shot from To Be Kind.

[@jiggy57]

Interesting Great and unique band, very loud live!

[@dfkdb6249]

To Be Kind is just so good

[@bennigh4323]

So true!

[@MotoNatrix]

I love how you don't exclude certain genres from these videos. Instea you include so many different types of music and aknowledging them for being music, not judging them.

[@TheRealSandleford]

I did not catch a reference to any country/bluegrass which has one chord songs

[@zootsoot2006]

I think when an example of a genre of music, i.e. rap, can be described as being a 'zero chord song', we can pretty confidently describe it as zero music, or non music.

[@-cjb-5048]

@@zootsoot2006 I disagree, in my biew music =/= how complex the harmony is. So much rap music with simple harmony is rich with lyricism and rhythm (among many other things) that makes it incredible to listen to , and undoubtedly music.

[@zootsoot2006]

@@-cjb-5048 The most primitive of music then.

[@mrdjango01a45]

Another great example of a one chord song is "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys. It is basically a one power chord guitar riff that never changes but still holds you on the very edge off your seat till the end.

[@jayrussell3796]

No ...maybe the vocal line but the bass walk weaves through chord progression

[@ElSantoLuchador]

@@jayrussell3796 You've got it backwards. Neither one is completely pure but it's the guitar that changes and the bass mostly keeps the same riff. Don't let the bass runs fool you. A bass run isn't a chord, it's a series of notes played in sequence. Stay in the same key and you'll be just fine. You can make a chord on a bass, but that isn't the case here. And there is no such thing as a chord in a vocal line.

[@jayrussell3796]

@@ElSantoLuchador as a guitarist and a piano player, if I can play over the song and change chords without it sounding like crap, there's a chord change there. My opinion. It sounds like a chord change, so it is a chord change, whether music theory says so or not.

[@andybrice2711]

Yeah I was thinking of that. It's a weird one. I feel like there are some "implied" chord changes by the interactions of a melody and two drones. But they're kind-of ambiguous.

[@Viper-dz2kw]

@@jayrussell3796that’s harmony not a chord change

[@shaipatel4960]

As a British Indian person who hasn't ever been particularly interested in her culture's music, that section with the Indian classical music has made me look way more into myself and my culture. Thanks so much David! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@olliefoxx7165]

If you're British..isn't THAT your culture? Does your race mean more than your country?

[@lexdraws1729]

@@olliefoxx7165 Race is actually one of the big parts of identity to a lot of people. Also if they don’t live in India, of course finding something to connect them to that part of their culture is going to be big. If they live in Britain, than they already know about that aspects of their culture. Also it makes sense that their race would mean more to them than nationality, because they have a long line of Indian ancestry.

[@lexdraws1729]

@@olliefoxx7165 Also....with your logic, both them being British and Indian should both be important, because they are both British and Indian.

[@olliefoxx7165]

@@lexdraws1729 So you're saying their nationality and culture isn't as important as their race. Your logic is race trumps nationality and culture even if you never had any or very little to do with the region where your race originated. India is a country not a race it is a country and a sub continent. British isnr a race itst a country. What you're saying is a very racist mind set. Personally I don't care but it's normally people like you that deny the same logic to white people. You are using your racial identity as the most important thing about a person. There are tens of millions of blacks in America that have never seen Africa which is a continent. Even the black people in Africa have their allegiance and identity to their tribe then their nation. Australia is predominantly white. Are they Australian or European or white?

[@lexdraws1729]

@@olliefoxx7165 I never claimed that. I said their race can be important to them because that’s where their ancestry and family culture lays in. Also said that if they don’t live in India, finding out and connecting more to their Indian side can be huge. Since race is a large part of identity. Also Indian people are Asian......Hence why I brought up race, “British is a race” Lol British is a nationality, not a race. How is me saying I understand why someone not living in a country many family members came from, and learning aspects of that part of themselves and it being important, racist? I never said anything about hating or disliking white people. “People like you”....you’re acting like I said we should harm whit people. All I said is it’s understandable why people want to connect to all aspects of their culture they don’t know much about. Didn’t claim racial identity is the most important thing about somehow, I said race is a large part of identity to a lot of people. Look it up. Also you’re Australian example, they are Australian because that’s a nationality, they can’t be European because they aren’t in Europe, and if their racial ancestry is white they’re white.. I feel like you took unnecessary offense to what I originally said.

[@DoctorAzmain]

“One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.” - Lou Reed. I know he was being metaphorical, but there is so much scope for experimentation and creativity when you force yourself into certain limits!

[@92Redstrat]

John Lee Hooker: He did more one chord songs than multiple chord songs.

[@unwavery]

JLH was the GOAT when it comes to just boogyin' down on one tonal center.

[@lyleswann6296]

Let that child boogie woogie!

[@billybigtime2808]

@@lyleswann6296 it’s in him and it’s got to come out

[@billybigtime2808]

I love how the first comment is a John Lee hooker based comments as that’s who I Thought of straight away regarding one chord

[@chrisgardiner5952]

Oh he was the man.

[@roycegrubic2620]

"Crosseyed & Painless" by Talking Heads is an amazing example of funky, polyrhythmic one-chord vamp kind of composition. Incredibly dynamic. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@punkillo]

Also The great Curve

[@roycegrubic2620]

@@punkillo All hail Fela Kuti, the inspiration for much of Remain in Light.

[@zachary963]

That whole album

[@roycegrubic2620]

@@zachary963 In spirit maybe, but not really..."Born Under Punches" has chord changes (think of the "All I want is to breathe" part), "Once in a Lifetime" goes back and forth between two chords, etc.

[@Hammerbruder99]

@Royce Grubic Awesome, thanks for the recommendation!

[@nateds7326]

You know I always said that Wap by Cardi and Meghan is a song that doesn't have any chords, but I always said that as a joke. I didn't know that was factually true.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😂

[@kevincowart362]

Or maybe its modulating between an inversion of a 9th and a min9th chord. Cardi B is a next level music theorist in the post-post-harmony paradigm and we all haven't caught up yet.

[@gergoretvari6373]

well maybe because that song sucks

[@charmelink]

Not only it has no chords... it actually has NO MUSIC whatsoever

[@Ioganstone]

I'm glad I can "chime in" on this no chord discussion. I remember when Rihanna submitted that "work work work" song and everyone said it was smart, that was the beginning of the end. Yes it has 3 chords at least in that song, but it was basically a psy op until each time it happened.

[@richard.f]

there is a song here in Brasil called "Samba de uma nota só", which sometimes is translated as "one note samba". very beautiful song.

[@winterzealot]

Yes, beautiful song ❤

[@petergarami8504]

"Old Wine, New Bottles" by The Hard Times is a good example of a garage rock band writing a great one chord song.

[@Nerkin610]

Thank you David, for the most high quality music channel on KZbin! :-)

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@danielkoschalka3955]

@@DavidBennettPiano which are your favourite music channels on KZbin, David?

[@DavidBennettPiano]

@@danielkoschalka3955 Adam Neely is king. But I also love Rick Beato, Charles Cornell, Andrew Huang, Rob Scallon, Listening In and David Bruce to just name a few!

[@danielkoschalka3955]

@@DavidBennettPiano I'm pretty sure you'll find this channel interesting - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXuqoGilpZKdf8k - this video is a musical analysis of All is Full of Love by Bjork, and she has done something along those lines for the new Radiohead release too.

[@TayWoode]

I love how there’s a bit of reverb after every song so it doesn’t cut off abruptly

[@Arend]

like it was all just a dream

[@PourlephoneProductions]

I've played "Tomorrow Never Knows" with my band and that's when I realized it only had one chord. Never realized it all the years I had listened to it before playing it! As always, very instructive video, David. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@Lemanic89]

TNK is an early example of what the Germans later called "krautrock", which is basically the link between rock and electronic music, as the latter took the krautrock sound and transposed it to drum machines and synthesizers and made synthpop all of a sudden.

[@inmundo6927]

so you dont do the Bb in the chorus?

[@inmundo6927]

you know, when Lennon goes: it is shi - ning... is it shi (Bb) ning (C). Bb - C. Fundamental chord change in the song, though short lived. There is no "question answer" if you play C all the way!

[@spodoinklehorse]

Chorus lol ​@@inmundo6927

[@santvanni_prod]

I really like the limitations that playing just one chord can bring, it makes you think at tones, instrumentations, melody and dynamics in a different way #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@DavidBennettPiano]

For sure! 😃😃

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Really enjoyed this. I’m an amateur. Songwriting is a hobby. Its fun. I’m self taught both playing the keys and theory. I’m not good or anything, but moderately competent. I get stuck in chord progressions all the time, because 90% of the time, it is where I start. Once I get that feeling that I like it, I start playing the bass or melody over the top. Sometimes I’ll drop the chords entirely, but it is still the backbone of the song. Even when its gone, I still hear it and feel it. This has challenged me to do something else....just to mix it up, and feel inspired in a new way. Thank you.

[@johnambrose9694]

Another great example of a one-chord Bob Dylan song is "The Ballad of Hollis Brown" from the album "The Times They Are A-changin.'" All of your examples were much more recent and feature a full band backing, but Hollis Brown is a great example using just one guitar outlining one chord with vocals, yet the vocal melody almost suggests a I-IV-V blues progression. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@bjhellstream]

Nazareth did an amazing full band version of Hollis Brown...

[@roycegrubic2620]

With "Tomorrow Never Knows," I do think it counts as a chord change since there is a palpable shift in feel (I'm tempted to call it "direction") when that B-flat chord happens. The listener has a sense of being pulled down or up by it. It's slightly more than just the addition of a harmonic element into the overall "rhythmic bed" that is there with the C chord drone/raga. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@mr.mysteriousspyman4016]

In "Tomorrow Never Knows", I am pretty sure the B-flat major chord occurs over the C bass note (not really over the C chord, which doesn't sound good). So, the full chord is BbDF/C. That's a slash chord I suppose. The Bb is the minor-seventh of C major; the D is the major ninth (second) and the F is the perfect eleventh (fourth). I've tried playing this song with the melody + chords together on the piano, and CEG+BbDF sounds abhorrent at this point in the song (for reasons that should be obvious), whereas C+BbDF sounds perfectly fine. (I mean, this is basically shown in the David Bennett video anyway; he has the C bass note tied underneath the Bb major chord.)

[@mr.mysteriousspyman4016]

I didn't previously know this song was originally written by the Beatles, but I've heard it before from the movie "Sucker Punch", which featured a very highly-produced arrangement/cover of the song. In the Sucker Punch version, you can hear that they've accentuated some of the subtle chord changes that occurred in the original song. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ranYqKZ-hLSNrpI

[@inmundo6927]

its the 7th.. so definitely a second note, or chord change, like you say. "It is not dying

[@inmundo6927]

they do something very similar in "Love you to". It revolves around the same base chord, stuck on the root note.. then the "chorus" comes and they swiftly change to the minor 7th to add some weight to it, quickly coming back to the root note. (in that bit "Make love all day long, Make love singing songs")

[@chematornero]

I would think of Bb/C as a C9sus4. Definitely a 2-chord song from my point of view, although only from modal interchange, so to say.

[@basti8742]

Björk’s Undo is also a 5:37 one-chord song without getting boring at any point

[@iethergy]

Additionally Family from her Vulnicura album is an F chord i believe

[@Equaltwo]

Halfway through I was about to joke that “next David is going to talk about zero chord songs.” And then you did. Thanks David for the high quality, in depth videos. It’s taken my original zero interest in theory and expanded my music so much. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@jyotektosgaimur]

I think Hyper Music by Muse is also a great example, as the chorus holds onto a D/F polychord (also labelled as a D7#9 (aka a Hendrix chord) with some chromatic movements on the bass.

[@dwc1970]

"Electric Avenue" by Eddie Grant was the first song I noticed staying in one chord.

[@TheRealSnowCat]

Technically it's a two-chord song, but with the 2nd chord only appearing at the end of each line (more pronounced in the chorus than in the verses), it does SOUND like one chord.

[@Taco_Raider]

OUT IN DA STREET

[@HofTheStage]

This is like a more in depth version of the video you did with Roomie a while back. Love it :) Didn't even realize some of these songs are one chord songs. When passively listening to them, the melody and the rhythm are often just enough for the song to work, not to mention lyrics and production tricks. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@sidinator3000]

I feel like a lot of these one chord minor progressions have quick little implied V chords scattered throughout, that's just what my brain is telling me haha.

[@redhorsereincarnated5040]

Yeah definitely. Some of the notes in the vocals are implying quick chord changes. I think it's a stretch to say some of these songs have only one chord.

[@johndrowe5281]

@@redhorsereincarnated5040 whilst I don’t know if it is a “stretch” or not, I certainly understand what you’re saying and I agree…

[@tommj4365]

Yes, most of these examples are not just one chord, just very focused on one chord

[@Gnurklesquimp]

I stopped asking myself ''Is this a chord?'' long ago

[@lamper2]

I agree

[@phildarwell655]

Great video, my personal favourite one chorder is Angel by Massive Attack, took me years to realise as it has so many different colours and phrases going on. Wonderful.

[@gcapris90]

Simplicity is such a powerful tool when thoughtfully orchestrated. Feeds creativity like nothing else could. Another amazing video! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@kickpublishing]

‘’Another type of music known for droning on one chord for an extended period of time is Indian classical music”. You can say that again, it’s been going on one chord for about 3000 years.

[@Fritz1457]

I think one song worth mentioning is "Sossego" by the Brazilian artist Tim Maia. It is entirely based on the chord of C7.

[@tyrannosauruszeppelin2205]

What? You don't need to use covers anymore for the Beatles' songs! Awesome!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I can use the original versions of Beatles songs if I keep them below 5 seconds long (hence the really short clips in this video!). I would have used covers but there isn't really good cover versions out there of Within You Without You and the other Indian-inspired Beatles tracks 🙂

[@sschmidtevalue]

Cheap Trick had an exquisite cover of Within You Without You on their Sgt. Pepper full album live disc. They had some guest musicians perform it, so it wasn't actually Cheap Trick.

[@Myrtone]

@@DavidBennettPiano This makes me wonder why you don't use covers of the Bob Dylan songs mentioned. As you can hear, his voice had become harsh and croaking by the time he wrote the songs you included in this video.

[@annoschreier1860]

"T.V. Eye" by the Stooges is also a great one chord song.

[@steveritt]

although it does change from A to A7 for the "Brother" lyric

[@SLAYER.APO.VOLO.]

I think Southbound Pachyderm by Primus is a great one chord song. Les Claypool keeps pedaling on an A note throughout the whole song. But the dynamics and the dissonance of the guitar and bass make this song a masterpiece. And if you either like them or not, you have to admit, Primus are musical geniuses

[@nickgaltman5179]

Using a variation of one chord can make a world of difference. One thing I wish I learned sooner in my music journey was more music theory and an understanding of how chords were formed. Thanks for the video!! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@ConceptJunkie]

I've always considered "Tomorrow Never Knows" as having two chords, because I've heard a cover that leaves out the overlaid Bb chord and it sounds very wrong. It's totally missing the resolution feeling you get when the song cadences and the Bb chord goes away. It maybe doesn't qualify as a real chord change, but it totally feels like one. Also, props for mentioning Indian classical music, a genre I've always found fascinating. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@inmundo6927]

Yep. Its based on a root note, being C, and then in the "chorus" they take it down to Bb (it is shining.... is it?) to then come back to the root, as to confirm the first sentence (it is! shining..). C...c. c c c .. C.. ..... Bb ... C...

[@inmundo6927]

not doing the overlaid Bb sounds "wrong" because this would leave out this "question and answer" mechanism which is a common way of expression in music, and instead it would simply sound "flat" and truly monotonous.

[@inmundo6927]

the only reason it would not qualify as a real chord change is because by it being only one note apart from the root, it doesn't feel as tense as a dominant 5th or a 4th or even a 3rd would feel like. But as you point out, if that change weren't there the song suddenly feels pointless and unappealing. The fact you can feel the tension and the release, and how you definitely notice it when it isn't there is more than proof that there is a "real" chord change going on. And that change pretty much "makes" the song.

[@clipsmasterproductions7479]

I like how you always play an original song at end using the concept you’re describing.

[@javerend]

I've always loved playing around with looper pedals and adding layers on top of a single chord drone and seeing how cool the textures can get as I add more and more instruments and melodic lines. Excellent video as always! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@anthursan]

Citó un ejemplo, un cantador de Flamenco llamado "Camarón de la Isla" tiene un tema llamado "La Nana de la del Cabello Grande" fusiona el cante flamenco con sonidos de Citará, la canción dura 04;58 segundos y se mantiene en un solo acordé C#m

[@DoorsInTheLabyrinth]

One of my favorites is "Silver" by Jesu. I've been working with a lot of drone myself lately; my last album had three songs with actual chord changes, shooting for more post-rock style dynamic building within a darkwave/goth context

[@Hellscrap3r]

Jesu is such a great band

[@DonDueed]

Somehow I knew "Within You Without You" would feature in this video! I remember reading a college textbook that analyzed the Sergeant Pepper album as a literary work. The author mentioned that, as the first song on Side 2, "WYWY" served as a summary of the content of Side 1 -- "We were talking about the space between us all, and the people who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion..." Looked at that way, it really does seem Harrison was pointing out the theme of the album, or at least its first half. Maybe the "one chord" structure was intended to make us focus on the lyric rather than the music. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@carloscontreraspal]

There's no problem in only using one chord. It depends on the intention of the song, nowadays the melody is what makes the song dynamic rather than the chords. I mean, look at September by Earth, Wind and Fire. If you play every element separated it sounds wack, but put it all together and the percussions, instruments and vocals make great beautiful harmonic palettes. Your example of blues music was a great and easy way to understand it. And so, it happens with modern music, the vocal melodies are the highlight rather than the chords. Great video!

[@richardreinertson1335]

I have been interested in drone-style music ever since I heard my first classical Indian sitar song. It was like a revelation.

[@bensonthai]

You should've included examples from Talking Heads' Remain in Light! Or LCD Soundsystem! They have great one-chord songs! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@Valleyplant]

Freak out!

[@saml302]

was thinking the same thing, how you gonna talk one chord grooves and not bring up the heads

[@pgnandt]

Eminence Front - The Who.

[@benostiguy7215]

“If you play more than two chords, you’re showing off” ~Woody Guthrie

[@tavusion]

2:18, not one note, but 2 notes are used. Most commonly, a Perfect Fifth and sometimes a Perfect Fourth based on the Raag being used. 4 strings of the Tanpura are tuned to, for example C - G - G - C(Lower)

[@michaeleverman3387]

The description of having movement over one chord is interesting. Some of the songs and styles you discussed I had interpreted as having chord changes even if the underlying vamp remained constant. (You can drone a single bass note and still have chord changes over top, after all.) And the zero chord song concept is fascinating. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@stepheneinbinder2604]

There's also a 20th century classical cantata with a movement with only one chord. The fifth movement of Carmina Burana, by Carl Orff: Ecce Gratum, contains only the F chord throughout.

[@Myrtone]

There has got to be movement in other elements of that, well, movement of that cantata.

[@DoctorPickle]

A majority of Psytrance also usually uses one chord throughout the entire song in a similar fashion, pretty cool!

[@f92hlk]

That doesnt deserve a mention, technically it isnt music

[@rubenproost2552]

No bag pipes as an example?

[@weirdtotoph7813]

"Love buzz" song covered by Nirvana pretty cool melody one chord and the bassline beautifies the song.

[@rodrigomachado5291]

I love how your videos are useful for a broad audencie of instrument-players, singers, composers etc. - without diverting into sociology and other stuff. Just advice for people who want to write good songs and play well. My favorite general music channel so far and by far.

[@kelvinemerich221]

Such a great lesson! These days I've been struggling with a song that a friend made, trying to guess the chord progression to harmonize it. Pretty much everything I tried didn't fit, except for a constant A minor chord. and I was putting myself down for no being capable of harmonize the song properly. This video opened my eyes in many ways!!! Thanks for the content. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

very interesting - do you compile these lists just based on recognising the music theory behind the songs which you listen to? or do you get some of your info from other places?

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Good question! It’s a bit of both. When I notice something interesting whilst casually listening I will take note of it, and then later when I want to make it into a video topic I search for other examples 😃

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

@@DavidBennettPiano thank you for replying!

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

I was in a band and the signer wrote a awesome song just playing the E chord... I came up with a riff that carried it, and the verse was no music, just a rhythmic thing... A masterclass in minimalism, but no one will ever hear it, lost forever.... There you go.

[@Diogoyork]

Even though I’m not a musician, I absolutely love your explanations on music theory. Specially when you talk about Radiohead and Beatles, those George Harrison examples are amazing. #playwithskooveandkorg Thank you, keep making great videos

[@fritzholsteen598]

Another fantastic video! This fit perfectly with my current explorations as a guitarist. I’ve gotten very interested with drone music after analyzing the mode changes in the soloing of The Doors “The End.” That combined with my general interest in shoegaze-esque noise scapes has been feeding many drone chord creative drives. Combining a drone with loads of oscillating pedals and a gliding whammy has been hours of fun for my writing that I would like to apply to more areas of music :) #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@roseopheliashepherd8379]

your own music at the end demonstrating the technique elevates the whole video!

[@TheIgnatzz]

Dylan's "The Ballad of Hollis Brown" is also one chord. And "High Water (For Charley Patton)" does one quick change at the end of the verse, and the rest is all one chord.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

I’m not sure about Political World. I can play it with two. But it’s close.

[@guitarbrad]

Good video! I always thought of Tomorrow Never Knows as having two chords, but like you said, its debatable. There's definitely a change in the harmony that has more to do with the added elements, like the tape loops. An actual instrument plays the second chord. C Bb/C are the chords. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@yayes]

Probably my favourite 1 chord song is Ruby Bulbs by Neutral Milk Hotel. If you ever see a live version of that song, it's just this great distorted noisy wall of just A MAJOR!!!

[@ItsIanAgain]

I know it’s not really a one chord song, but I really love how Blue Jay Way by the Beatles stays on just variations of a C chord throughout, and would love to see a video about other songs that use that neat sort of chord progression if there are any.

[@auldthymer]

I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady. Am7, A7, A6, A...

[@settlekettle6587]

One or two chord vamps all day! Jamming tonight and we often play alot of funk. Really opened my eyes to how rhythm can really flesh out a tune that has less going on harmonically. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@jesper7993]

One of my favourites is Blue Jay Way by George Harrison. Though the please don't be long part does change into a C/A, the song mostly stays on C throughout.

[@DeflatingAtheism]

Your "one chord song" at the end could be analyzed as a melody with implied harmonic changes, over a tonic-dominant double pedal. 😀

[@MIGUEL-1984]

What’s a double pedal

[@hunkymunky1704]

@@MIGUEL-1984 ur mom

[@konstkaras]

@@MIGUEL-1984 1st and 5th notes playing constantly.

[@evanmcgregor3758]

Fascinating video as usual David! Also, a great reminder that constantly trying to change cords and come up with new progressions is not always necessary, try to come up with good melodies over one chord.. I'm going to take that challange!! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@benfinesilver2250]

Appreciated your video. You are knowledgable and humble. Kudos.

[@NTSTS0]

I remember learning about modes and drone accompaniments as a kid. Hearing that my guitar could produce the notes of an 'arabic scale' felt like some real magic. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@belalaloca]

I'm so glad I found your channel! I love all the Bealtes analysis mixed with all different bands and styles, and I'm glad I found a fellow Indian-inspired Beatles music enthusiast. I have shared Within You Without You with many people and a lot of them hate it. I think that it is really unique and awesome sounding. I will definitely subscribe and watch more of your high quality videos! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@masonkanterbury3007]

A lot of people don't realize that it takes a mastery of rhythm to use one chord. The beginning of Little Pink Houses is a good example of a song that stumps a lot of guitarists, not for its complexity, but over simplicity.

[@SmilingIbis]

3:30 the words on the sheet music say: "I turn around it's pasted" LOL.

[@lapislazuali]

Thank you for this 💎🇬🇧

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you for watching! 😃

[@zimmejoc]

This is an awesome video. I'm not a fan of rap or classical Indian music. I learned long ago that it is music, it is just music I don't like. Watching this vid gave me the tools to describe exactly what my issue with those types of song are--the droning or two bar loop where the chord isn't something to pay attention to, and that is what I want to hear is the chord progression. Whether the person I'm talking to understands chord progressions and the lack thereof is why I don't care for that kind of music is another matter. I always learn something in your vids, but this one is on another level.

[@JamoboBorg]

Stereolab are great for this! Lots of their songs are built on very simple vamps including single chords for 5-6 minutes at a time, yet they make this really catchy and beautiful music #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@AmberAmber]

I love them - however they use an instrument which has a drone & i get an epileptic migraine from it :( Hate that I can't listen Went to see them live & had to sit in the car.

[@chordorchard7213]

Old Lungs is a great example of this. Amazing tune built on one element after another building and building, each instrument simply looping round on a single idea. Genius. Mary Hansen ❤❤❤

[@winterzealot]

Favorite band of all time, totally brilliant and beautiful, very moving and grooving music

[@rodrigobaez9814]

Many times we complain about how simple modern songs and genres of music are, forgetting that before they were too, and that does not make them bad. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@zacpiya]

Beautiful and masterful improvisation Peter. I felt every note. Thank you, I hope you’re well ☺

[@KevyNova]

Harry Nilsson had at least three great songs with only one chord: “Coconut”, “Jump Into The Fire” and “Who Done It”

[@Mikino1976]

Beat me to it!

[@KevyNova]

@anyway96 Harry had dozens of great songs that are hardly known. Anyone who likes The Beatles would LOVE Harry’s albums.

[@russiansteve]

This has prompted me to look at my own music in a new light and realise that a chord progression is not always a necessary element and that interest can be introduced in other ways. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@scootscootriot]

I have a background in music composition and theory, and I will confirm, this was a highly accurate video, with many astute musical observations. Well done.

[@mrjqmes]

Thanks for this one. Really made me think about 1 chord usage, and “Music” by Madonna is such a jam man. If the elements are there, 1 chord can be a jam! #playwithskooveandkorg

[@DavidBennettPiano]

For sure! 😃😃

[@IrradiatedPotato]

George and Bob on a thumbnail together? I'm clicking!

[@gutyseb]

There's a song called "Mañana en el abasto" from the band Sumo that also use one chord (E chord)

[@ConnorGlass121]

"No Diggity" by Blackstreet

[@oblivianation9759]

I always wanted to write a one cord song. I just couldn't figure out which one I liked the best.

[@warren52nz]

I think Thomas Dolby's song *_"Airhead"_* is in one chord too. Really funky and of my favourites to listen to loud.

[@ptheorist4670]

As a lover of classical choral music, I adore harmony and chord progression. But even I can admit that it's far from the most important part of music making. There isn't "one" part of music that makes music what it is, so we can't really make a hierarchy of what's most "important". That's what I love with music in general, it can be so wide and apply to every single person with all its styles and varieties. I love harmony, but I also love the fact that music can be just as exciting without it. #playwithskooveandkorg

[@RedDogMamaHD]

I love how much you focus on The Beatles! *I know exactly where I was when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan show! The basement of my best friend* (at the time) ... We screamed the whole time! I was 12! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@midoriya_mumble]

I really appreciate you just going for topics like this, it's helping me conceptualise how to bring the actual music to lyrics and ideas I want to tackle but can't quite get because I'm still quite new to this.

[@SignOfTheWarrior]

You're probably right with the funk music and the common use of one chord. This is why you can easily transform a Rammstein song into funk music. Please checkout the mashup between "Play that funky music" and "Du hast". It's awesome.

[@billmaddocks5276]

Hi David, I have been watching your youtube vids for ages now and have a few comments I would like to share. Firstly, your music knowledge is quite obvious for all to see and the amount of helpful info has been most useful to everyone who loves music, old and new. Secondly I have had a sense over the years about modern day songwriters and composers and that is, they make music without the benefit of vast amounts of training. I know some have been to colleges and uni etc..etc but the vast majority haven't. Case in point is the Beatles (who I saw in 1965 in Sheffield when I was 9) they never had any music training that Im aware of, but did have great instincts on vocal harmony and knew what they were trying to do. Many others over the last 100 yrs have also relied on instinct rather than formal training. This leads me to suggest that the modern day musicmakers are just as talented as the "Masters, like Mozart..Beethoven.." etc..etc, but talented in a different way, relying on pure instinct rather than knowledge learned. So could Mozart given 3 chords and an electric guitar come up with "Mystery Song" by Quo which for the 4/5 mins it runs is just as entertaining as anything he came up with, but in a different way. Music and songs are entertainment! pure and simple. Yes tastes change quickly, but I argue that todays musicmakers are no less talented than the old Masters, and they make music and good livings..( some do)..with much less abilities. Thirdly, I came to the conclusion that I would like to see you play more of the snippets of songs on the piano yourself rather than recorded clips. It would be useful to see you actually playing these clips with a camera from behind you so we could see first hand what you are trying to point out. It is good that some music has only 1 chord and the melody and other factors drive the piece rather than the standard 3/4 chord tired old progressions we have got used to. So to sum up, modern music is about instinct and innovation rather than highly trained pianists writing elaborate and lengthy pieces (although I love classical stuff as much as pop) I argue that Paul Simon, Elton, The Stones, The Beatles are just as important musically and historically as any of the Masters, because they have less to work with, you may disagree with me on this. Lastly many many thanks for all your work on KZbin and Patreon, and please keep going as we all need these vids. I am 65yrs old and have returned to trying to learn piano after an absence of 50yrs..tough ask?..stay safe my friend, many thanks..Bill in the UK. #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@artbymiwsher]

This was a very liberating video for me. I had the idea the other day when writing a song to see how far I could go with a single chord. It's surprised me how far I reached-I was able to focus on so many other things when not worrying about a chord progression.

[@Bilge-ko5qp]

The Beatles are everywhere, every video... they are really amazing! #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Their here, there and everywhere!

[@Bilge-ko5qp]

​@@DavidBennettPiano Exactly!!

[@Foodgeek]

It just goes to show, you can make an awesome song with just one chord :) #PlaywithSkooveandKorg

[@theriskymotion]

I'm always learning something on this channel!!! love it