BBC


Songwriting Guides > Writing a song > Harmony Songwriting Guides
Writing a song Harmony

A chord is made up of three or more notes sounded simultaneously. The classification of chords and their relation to each other forms part of the study of harmony . In song writing, the most important use of chords is when writing a chord sequence. This succession of different chords underpins the harmony of the whole song. The melody and chord sequence in a song complement each other, often using the same notes to create a harmonious and musically pleasing effect. This sequence is usually repeated several times; sometimes a different sequence is used within the chorus and even another for the middle 8 .

Try two different chords per bar in your chorus for a change of pace.
Steve Hillier

Here is one very famous chord sequence:
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California

F# Bminor
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place) such a lovely face

G D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California

Em F#
Any time of year (any time of year), you can find it here

Hotel California (Felder/Henley/Frey)
You could easily hum this melody with only a guitar strumming these chords as an accompaniment and your listeners would instantly know which song you're playing.

Jeff Lynne Jeff Lynne
Was particularly pleased with a tricky harmonic progression in ELO's 'Living Thing'. "There's one chord change that makes the whole song."
Listen to the interview
Audio help But what about your own harmony and chord sequences? Here are some ideas to get you going:

• Don't be afraid to use a famous chord sequence as the basis for your song. Most writers do not consider this plagiarism or stealing as long as you write your own lyric and melody to accompany it. After all, there's a finite amount of chord sequences you can use anyway!
• Many songs use only one chord per bar but varying the rate of change of the chords can vary the level of excitement in your song. Try two different chords per bar in your chorus for a change of pace.
• Harmony vocals are a great way to add excitement to your song, just ask the Everly Brothers! Again, these harmony vocals should be based on the notes used in the current chord for a pleasing musical effect.
• It can be musically interesting to start your chord sequence with a chord that's not the root chord of your key eg, if you're playing in the key of C, try starting with the chord Dm. Your music will feel like it's moving forward, taking your listeners on a musical journey.

Back to top

About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy
 

Change Text Only Settings