How do you chord songs?

[Fenix]

I mean i can listen to a song and follow along with the chord progression, but you guys here (T-Block, keep your hands lifted) are beasts when it comes to this.

How do you know the EXACT voicing of the chords?

How do you even know the fills and runs?

I say this cuz i have played songs on LGM that were SPOT ON. I compared them to the CD version and there is almost no difference. How do ya'll do it?

[T-Block]

With me, I do what I always do, listen for the bass first.  I go through the whole song and list every bass note that's played.  After that, I turn the notes into numbers based on the key.  After I got all the bass notes down, I practice and play the bass with the CD until I'm fairly confident that I have all the correct bass notes.

Now, for getting the chords correct (or almost correct), I go through bout 3 different phases.  The first phase is chord recognition.  It really helps if u can recognize chord qualities and inversions by ear alone.  A major chord in root position sounds different from a major chord in 1st inversion, which sounds different from a major chord in 2nd inversion, etc.  If I notice any spots in the song where I hear a recognizable chord, I write it down.

The 2nd phase is using the numbers I got from the bass notes.  I can pretty much narrow the chord choices down once I know the bass note.  Once I find a chord that matches, I use my ear to figure out the inversion and then write it down.

The 3rd phase is simply using my ear to figure out problem chords.  If neither phase 1 or 2 can help me, I use my ear to write down every note I hear being played in a particular chord.  Usually, after I got a few notes written down, I can use theory to find the chord that will have all those notes in them.

As far as runs, all u can do is use your ears to figure out the notes being played.  Sometimes, the notes are part of a scale, sometimes they are part of a chord.  The great thing about a run is it's one note a time.  The rewind button will definitely help u out here.  Write down all the notes u hear and practice til u can do it perfectly.

After I'm done chording, I play through the chords I wrote out with the CD.  Once i'm in the 90-100% range of matching the CD, then I'll post the chords.  It's very, very, very hard at first, but gets easier after you've done a few.  Here are some tips I can give to u or any wanting to chord out a song from a CD:

Tip #1:  SELECTIVE HEARING - focus only on what u want to figure out at the time and try to ignore everything else

Tip#2:  WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN - anything that u hear, write it down, it will help u figure out the rest

Tip #3:  REWIND & FAST FOWARD - these 2 buttons will be ur best friends, use them

Tip #4:  USE THEORY WHEN APPLICABLE - if ur theory game is decent, use it to help with trouble spots

[rayjohnson83]

With me, I do what I always do, listen for the bass first.  I go through the whole song and list every bass note that's played.  After that, I turn the notes into numbers based on the key.  After I got all the bass notes down, I practice and play the bass with the CD until I'm fairly confident that I have all the correct bass notes.

Now, for getting the chords correct (or almost correct), I go through bout 3 different phases.  The first phase is chord recognition.  It really helps if u can recognize chord qualities and inversions by ear alone.  A major chord in root position sounds different from a major chord in 1st inversion, which sounds different from a major chord in 2nd inversion, etc.  If I notice any spots in the song where I hear a recognizable chord, I write it down.

The 2nd phase is using the numbers I got from the bass notes.  I can pretty much narrow the chord choices down once I know the bass note.  Once I find a chord that matches, I use my ear to figure out the inversion and then write it down.

The 3rd phase is simply using my ear to figure out problem chords.  If neither phase 1 or 2 can help me, I use my ear to write down every note I hear being played in a particular chord.  Usually, after I got a few notes written down, I can use theory to find the chord that will have all those notes in them.

As far as runs, all u can do is use your ears to figure out the notes being played.  Sometimes, the notes are part of a scale, sometimes they are part of a chord.  The great thing about a run is it's one note a time.  The rewind button will definitely help u out here.  Write down all the notes u hear and practice til u can do it perfectly.

After I'm done chording, I play through the chords I wrote out with the CD.  Once i'm in the 90-100% range of matching the CD, then I'll post the chords.  It's very, very, very hard at first, but gets easier after you've done a few.  Here are some tips I can give to u or any wanting to chord out a song from a CD:

Tip #1:  SELECTIVE HEARING - focus only on what u want to figure out at the time and try to ignore everything else

Tip#2:  WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN - anything that u hear, write it down, it will help u figure out the rest

Tip #3:  REWIND & FAST FOWARD - these 2 buttons will be ur best friends, use them

Tip #4:  USE THEORY WHEN APPLICABLE - if ur theory game is decent, use it to help with trouble spots

This is some good stuff man. thanks for sharing

[sjonathan02]

This is some good stuff man. thanks for sharing

Agreed.

[Mrandrew]

How long does this usually take you guys. It takes me a few days, if I'm seriously trying to get it.

[chevonee]

This is some good stuff man. thanks for sharing

Agreed.

Me 2 guys
T-block is da man!!!

[Fenix]

How long does this usually take you guys. It takes me a few days, if I'm seriously trying to get it.

Takes me a week.

[jgause2]

With me, I do what I always do, listen for the bass first.  I go through the whole song and list every bass note that's played.  After that, I turn the notes into numbers based on the key.  After I got all the bass notes down, I practice and play the bass with the CD until I'm fairly confident that I have all the correct bass notes.

Now, for getting the chords correct (or almost correct), I go through bout 3 different phases.  The first phase is chord recognition.  It really helps if u can recognize chord qualities and inversions by ear alone.  A major chord in root position sounds different from a major chord in 1st inversion, which sounds different from a major chord in 2nd inversion, etc.  If I notice any spots in the song where I hear a recognizable chord, I write it down.

The 2nd phase is using the numbers I got from the bass notes.  I can pretty much narrow the chord choices down once I know the bass note.  Once I find a chord that matches, I use my ear to figure out the inversion and then write it down.

The 3rd phase is simply using my ear to figure out problem chords.  If neither phase 1 or 2 can help me, I use my ear to write down every note I hear being played in a particular chord.  Usually, after I got a few notes written down, I can use theory to find the chord that will have all those notes in them.

As far as runs, all u can do is use your ears to figure out the notes being played.  Sometimes, the notes are part of a scale, sometimes they are part of a chord.  The great thing about a run is it's one note a time.  The rewind button will definitely help u out here.  Write down all the notes u hear and practice til u can do it perfectly.

After I'm done chording, I play through the chords I wrote out with the CD.  Once i'm in the 90-100% range of matching the CD, then I'll post the chords.  It's very, very, very hard at first, but gets easier after you've done a few.  Here are some tips I can give to u or any wanting to chord out a song from a CD:

Tip #1:  SELECTIVE HEARING - focus only on what u want to figure out at the time and try to ignore everything else

Tip#2:  WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN - anything that u hear, write it down, it will help u figure out the rest

Tip #3:  REWIND & FAST FOWARD - these 2 buttons will be ur best friends, use them

Tip #4:  USE THEORY WHEN APPLICABLE - if ur theory game is decent, use it to help with trouble spots

Ditto.



It just takes practice. Thats all.  When i first started, it would take me about 2 weeks, just to get the chorus.  It took a few years, and now depending on the level of difficulty, i can pick through a song in a matter of minutes or a couple of hours.  But the more you practice doing it, the better you'll become. 

Also, as T-Block said, if you are up on your theory, don't be afraid to use it.  just about all the songs i've learned, i learned just by listening for progressions.  If you know your progressions, then just follow the bass line, , and usually that will hint to you what progression to use, and it makes learning the song easier.  Practice your progressions in every key, so that when it comes to learning a song in a key you're not that familiar in, it won't be too difficult.  Be Blessed.

[T-Block]

How long does this usually take you guys. It takes me a few days, if I'm seriously trying to get it.

For me, it depends on the song and how much time I got for posting.  On average, to learn a song and post the chords usually takes me about an hour.

[Mrandrew]

I can only pray I will one day get to that level of learning songs. However, with the time, practice and patience I will eventually get there.

[musallio]

Thanks T, the method really works..It's not easy to forget the bassline once U've gone over it a few times..

On Friday eve I was requested by my friend's nephew to play a song for them on Saturday at the wedding..when I listened to the phone--I 1st got the shock that the song was modulating twice, but following the bassline really showed me that I was merely repeating the same thing in 3 keys (C to Db to D)
I just practiced that for the night & figured out the chords after midnight when I had my bass in order.

That song: He Still Loves Me by Beyonce & who?

point is: The bassnote method works guys..
& another point that T made that I reiterate: Don't try to catch everything in 1 go--listen to the particular part (be it bass or whatever) until you have it before moving onto the next thing.

cheerio.

[T-Block]

That song: He Still Loves Me by Beyonce & who?

My thoughts exactly, LOL. 

[kodacolor]

If the notes/chords for the instrument I'm playing isn't obvious I use the bass note to find my chords.  If that doesn't work I'll depend on other instruments and the vocalist(s). 

Then I'll try to find the voicing that sounds the closest to that in the song.

It's going to take a lot of rewinding, playing, and pausing.  I don't fastfoward.  I just let it play and play with the song until I get to the part where I'm stuck at.   

Write down or memorize (to write down later) the chords and play them with the song to see how close you are.  If it sounds bad keep trying. 

And that's the way the chick with no/very little knowledge of theory does it!  Yeah baby!

When I write chords for the guitar I write them as they're seen on other sites like:

C        F         G                 E  
   Hallelujah Salvation and Glory 

Am            Dm               G           C
Honor and power unto the Lord our God

I think that's what it is.  I don't have my guitar in front of me.

I rarely ever use tablature unless it's guitar solo and I rarely try to tab guitar solos considering I can barely play them.

[kodacolor]

C       F          G                E 
   Hallelujah Salvation and Glory

Am            Dm               G           C
Honor and power unto the Lord our God


that's better...kinda  That's one of the many ways to play it.

[Fenix]

C       F          G                E 
   Hallelujah Salvation and Glory

Am            Dm               G           C
Honor and power unto the Lord our God


that's better...kinda  That's one of the many ways to play it.

Thats guitar chording, not piano chording.

BTW if you are that into guitar you should check out Powertab software. It is SO sweet and you can find a lot of songs tabbed out. If not for that software i would never have gotten any Eric Clapton song down.

Check out Relient K too. Those guys have acoustic stuff that is sweet to play.

[T-Block]

Check out Relient K too. Those guys have acoustic stuff that is sweet to play.

CO-SIZZLE!!!

[Fenix]

CO-SIZZLE!!!

What? Don't tell me you listen to them too??

[T-Block]

What? Don't tell me you listen to them too??

Please believe it.  I told you I was a rock fan.  I'm just falling in love with the sound of guitars.

[musallio]

Please believe it.  I told you I was a rock fan.  I'm just falling in love with the sound of guitars.

One gospel artist uses the distortion feedback guitar as 1 of his band's instruments..& what many would have viewed as a taboo are liking the sound alot..I's just great..
So once I get better at playing the sound properly, I'll start throwing it in at church..

It's really catchy

[kodacolor]

One gospel artist uses the distortion feedback guitar as 1 of his band's instruments..& what many would have viewed as a taboo are liking the sound alot..I's just great..
So once I get better at playing the sound properly, I'll start throwing it in at church..

It's really catchy

I feel that I'm better at rock than R&B on my guitar and vise versa on my keyboard.  I can never get the distortion sound I want.  One thing I'm trying to figure out how to do is...like when you listen to rock music and you hear the distortion and the chords but you don't hear every single strum.  Yeah that. 

At musicians/choir practice one day I kept putting a rock flavor to the songs we were doing inbetween songs.  Nobody really said much of anything.  Knowing me I doubt they were surprised!    They were there to hear my transition from extremely rock influenced to a "normal" level or rock influence.  I remember when I first joined the ministry and started playing the guy playing the guitar at the time (he now plays the bass in the ministry) was shocked that R&B and blues was hard for me considering how much exposure I had/have to R&B and blues(kinda).  At one point he was like, "Come on, Koda.  The black's in you somewhere.  It's gotta be there"