🎸 Why a Song Becomes Something Else with 'Just a Small Change' —— Ideas for Starting with Chord Progressions♪ [Composition Course Sample Taught by an Indie Semi-Pro]

Stumbling blocks in composition

When you continue composing, there are moments when you feel, 'I'm trying to write a new song, but for some reason, it ends up sounding like a song I've already written.'

This is something many people experience, and it is nothing out of the ordinary.

In fact, it is proof that a 'stable pattern' has begun to form within you.

Composition is, rather than being born from complete nothingness, an activity closer to 'how to change' combinations of sounds that already exist.

Among these, the easiest thing to control is the chord progression.

Explanation of techniques for transforming chord progressions

For example, there is the following progression.

C → Am → F → G

This is very common and is a form used in many songs.

The characteristic of this progression is that it is entirely contained within the same key (C major).

This state is stable and natural, but it can also be said to be 'easy to predict'.

Here, I will change just one chord.

I only changed the final G to E7, but the impression changes significantly.

This is because E7 is not a chord that naturally exists within C major, and it has the power to temporarily pull the song in a different direction.

By using chords like this, you can add 'sway' or 'a sense of unease' to a song.

The important thing is not to change everything.

一部分だけを変えることで、元の形を保ちながら、新しい印象を作ることができます。

This is a very effective method for moving forward with composition.

Another method is the idea of 'adding chords'.

For example,

C → Am → F → G

you can insert another chord between these four chords.

By increasing the number of chords in this way, the movement becomes smoother and creates a more complex impression.

There is also a method of replacing them with 'other chords that have the same function'.

For example, if you use Em instead of C, it won't be exactly the same, but it will have a different sound while maintaining a connection.

This kind of substitution is one of the basic techniques for changing the atmosphere of a song.

Furthermore, tempo is also an important element.

Even with the same chord progression, the character of the song changes just by changing the tempo.

Playing it slowly creates a calm impression, while playing it fast creates a sense of tension.

Also, just by slightly changing the placement of the rhythm, it can sound like a new phrase.

What is important here is 'not trying to create something completely new'.

Using an existing form as a standard,

By accumulating these small changes, the song will change naturally.

When you are stuck in your composition, try small changes instead of trying to change things significantly.

Within those changes, you may find your own unique patterns.

And that pattern is exactly what will later be called your 'own style'.

Next time, I will take this 'substitution' a step further and explain how to use chords outside the key while still making them sound natural.

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