How do you chord songs?

[musallio]

^^^

  , especially the last sentence
If truth be told, some music might be generally easier in terms of chord structure etc, but the defining element is THE FEEL..
It's either you have it or not..if not, develop it..It can be done...patience produces good fruits too..
6 months ago I would be looked at as a laughing stock if I said I can play a simple song (only 3 or 4 had that faith in me--not even my parents!)..Nowadays I sometimes wish I had never come public about it..the same people who threw stones at me expect me to play anything & everything that comes to their heads I need to work on my rock music & jazz.

[T-Block]

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" 

That white print is exactly what I'm talking about, music is too color-coded. 

[musallio]

That white print is exactly what I'm talking about, music is too color-coded. 

I think I might be a bit too slow on this 1..
plz explain yourself so that I'm sure I'm intepreting you the way I ought to..
Thanks

[T-Block]

By color-coded I mean people automatically associate a different style of music with a specific race of people.  Like rock-n-roll is only for white people, hip-hop/rap & R&B is only for black people, latin music is only for latin people, etc.  When someone outside the "color" experiments with other music, most of the time it isn't receieved very well.

[musallio]

Cool, I was in-synch then
I hate that stereotyping / categorization!
There have been several instances when I start playing a certain song & every1 just looks down & some people start saying the color stuff

[T-Block]

Cool, I was in-synch then
I hate that stereotyping / categorization!
There have been several instances when I start playing a certain song & every1 just looks down & some people start saying the color stuff

I use to get looks like that, but I'm slowly molding my church to accept other styles of music, LOL.  One time in church I played some Beethoven stuff, but I kinda flipped it just a little and had the church rocking wit it.  My mom made up a song on the spot with the music, it was awesome.  Later at dinner, I told her "Mom, u was in there rocking to Beethoven."  She was like, "For real?  I didn't know Beethoven could do gospel."

[MemphisKeys]

Thanks.... Guys I been having a hard time trying to chord songs and having problems trying to do everything in it but...Ima take T-block elements and use them.... I never tried to follow the bass line...but ima get to it...Thanks again and GOD Bless ALL ...

[csedwards2]

Thanks.... Guys I been having a hard time trying to chord songs and having problems trying to do everything in it but...Ima take T-block elements and use them.... I never tried to follow the bass line...but ima get to it...Thanks again and GOD Bless ALL ...

also, try your hand at picking up older songs, they tend to have less stuff clouding the arrangement so you can hear the keys better. Plus some of the fundamental techniques we're talking about today are demonstrated throughout the music clearly.

I was listening to the Family Affair album by Hez today, and its refreshing to actually hear chords. Theres a lot of synth action, but nonetheless you can hear better whats going on in the older stuff than the newer. Once you get those techniques from the old, listen to the newer to give you more alternatives (tritones, polychords, substitutions).

[Fenix]

also, try your hand at picking up older songs, they tend to have less stuff clouding the arrangement so you can hear the keys better. Plus some of the fundamental techniques we're talking about today are demonstrated throughout the music clearly.

I was listening to the Family Affair album by Hez today, and its refreshing to actually hear chords. Theres a lot of synth action, but nonetheless you can hear better whats going on in the older stuff than the newer. Once you get those techniques from the old, listen to the newer to give you more alternatives (tritones, polychords, substitutions).

THis begs the question why newer songs are so busy? I was listening to some of Tye's songs. I gave up after 10 minutes of try to chord them.

[T-Block]

THis begs the question why newer songs are so busy?

That's a good question.  I'm guessing that now-a-days, a lot of musicians seem to be under the impression that more is better.  How can I outdo what I did last album, or how can I outdo anybody else in the game.  It seems like the entertainment and "WOW" factor is becoming more engulfed in gospel music.

[musallio]

After hearing a few people around here sound so amazing with basic stuff, I'm over the fuss about "fancy" chording etc..I just focus on playing stuff that sounds great to the ear..I've learnt that good tones & voicings are recipe for great music, not necessarily "complex" chords..

[sjonathan02]

After hearing a few people around here sound so amazing with basic stuff, I'm over the fuss about "fancy" chording etc..I just focus on playing stuff that sounds great to the ear..I've learnt that good tones & voicings are recipe for great music, not necessarily "complex" chords..

Man, you. are. ON IT!! 

[Fenix]

After hearing a few people around here sound so amazing with basic stuff, I'm over the fuss about "fancy" chording etc..I just focus on playing stuff that sounds great to the ear..I've learnt that good tones & voicings are recipe for great music, not necessarily "complex" chords..

Preach it.

[SirTJ]

After hearing a few people around here sound so amazing with basic stuff, I'm over the fuss about "fancy" chording etc..I just focus on playing stuff that sounds great to the ear..I've learnt that good tones & voicings are recipe for great music, not necessarily "complex" chords..

That's true (mostly). Also, throwing in little small-yet-simple tricks such as the West Coast slide and/or Half-Step-Whole-Step skip adds a LOT. It's simple stuff that can turn almost anything you play around.

And of course, VOICING, VOICING, VOICING! Makes all the difference. People will think you're playing 50 different chords when all you're doing is playing the same 3 or 4, utilizing VOICING.

[cas10a]

After hearing a few people around here sound so amazing with basic stuff, I'm over the fuss about "fancy" chording etc..I just focus on playing stuff that sounds great to the ear..I've learnt that good tones & voicings are recipe for great music, not necessarily "complex" chords..

Cosign!!

This is right on the money...it's not really about "large/phat/complex" chords, it more about voicing and placement, even with basic chords...

I think I've heard Bishop Cole say the same many times along with others...T-Block, SoundofJoy, etc.,...

It's great to be able to expand chords/progressions, as you may see many Jazz musicians do when they improvise, but I know I've listened to some jazz music where the melody is totally lost in the arrangement because of too much complexity...and you definately couldn't sing to the arrangement if it were a gospel song being song on Sunday morning...lol
 

[Blessingss]

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.

  Just an hour?

This is real great info, thanks for sharing T

[musallio]

That's true (mostly). Also, throwing in little small-yet-simple tricks such as the West Coast slide and/or Half-Step-Whole-Step skip adds a LOT. It's simple stuff that can turn almost anything you play around.

And of course, VOICING, VOICING, VOICING! Makes all the difference. People will think you're playing 50 different chords when all you're doing is playing the same 3 or 4, utilizing VOICING.

I've just come from a crusade at a kiddie's park where I was asked o play. A group of kiddies who can play seemed o be assessing my playing and I heard one of them who seems to play say to his pals, "yoh! he can play advanced stuff; look a his fingers..etc" 
 meanwhile there was nothing over the top I was playing- just simple melody and harmony- with a little run here and there.

So I agree with what you said back then...here were guys thinking I'm doing 50 things yet I was getting irritated with myself because I was recycling the same stuff and felt there was more stuff I could throw in to make it sweeter to my ear..

[T-Block]

Wow... you guys have been holding out on me. I had no idea Fenix and T-Block were into Relient K...

*nods head*