Pop Chord Progressions Options

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Hi guys! I found a really cool article where the author did a deep analysis of the chords progressions most used in Pop music. I find it really cool because I analyse music and songs in this same way...

This is the article: http://fromthewoodshed.com/2011/05/26/pop-...d-progressions/

This video is also included in the article:


What do you think? Would you do this analysis based on your favourite style?

[Cosmin Lupu]

I know this one really amazing things if we think for a second - no complicated stuff at all and yet, the variations are incredibly vast

[Bogdan Radovic]

I really like this concept and I have thought a lot about it. It really makes you wonder and stop for a second when thinking about composing? I think it pretty easy to get in the trap of avoiding "common stuff" and trying to be original "no matter what".
I don't actually think originality means using uncommon chord progressions or really weird effects or something. It goes way beyond that. We are all "original" and different as human beings by default. If people recognize your work, you will be considered original in the end. When I'm composing, my number one priority is to make a beautiful song that is pleasing to my ears. It doesn't matter to me if I use the same chords as James Blunt and tons of others - it's not the chords that matter in the end rather the song. Overall experience, lyrics, melody, arrangement. In the video above you can find 40 songs that share same chords, but they are all huge hit songs and they are actually very different in comparison. Using those chords will not provide you with a hit song either.
I always liked "simple the better" approach to music. As long as the songs sounds beautiful to my ears it doesn't matter if it shares something common with other songs I guess...

[Cosmin Lupu]

I really like this concept and I have thought a lot about it. It really makes you wonder and stop for a second when thinking about composing? I think it pretty easy to get in the trap of avoiding "common stuff" and trying to be original "no matter what".
I don't actually think originality means using uncommon chord progressions or really weird effects or something. It goes way beyond that. We are all "original" and different as human beings by default. If people recognize your work, you will be considered original in the end. When I'm composing, my number one priority is to make a beautiful song that is pleasing to my ears. It doesn't matter to me if I use the same chords as James Blunt and tons of others - it's not the chords that matter in the end rather the song. Overall experience, lyrics, melody, arrangement. In the video above you can find 40 songs that share same chords, but they are all huge hit songs and they are actually very different in comparison. Using those chords will not provide you with a hit song either.
I always liked "simple the better" approach to music. As long as the songs sounds beautiful to my ears it doesn't matter if it shares something common with other songs I guess...

Very true mate! When I was 20 years old, I was totally obsessed to find THAT chord progression which will sound unique how youth is wasted on the young some would say

[Gabriel Leopardi]

I really like this concept and I have thought a lot about it. It really makes you wonder and stop for a second when thinking about composing? I think it pretty easy to get in the trap of avoiding "common stuff" and trying to be original "no matter what".
I don't actually think originality means using uncommon chord progressions or really weird effects or something. It goes way beyond that. We are all "original" and different as human beings by default. If people recognize your work, you will be considered original in the end. When I'm composing, my number one priority is to make a beautiful song that is pleasing to my ears. It doesn't matter to me if I use the same chords as James Blunt and tons of others - it's not the chords that matter in the end rather the song. Overall experience, lyrics, melody, arrangement. In the video above you can find 40 songs that share same chords, but they are all huge hit songs and they are actually very different in comparison. Using those chords will not provide you with a hit song either.
I always liked "simple the better" approach to music. As long as the songs sounds beautiful to my ears it doesn't matter if it shares something common with other songs I guess...

I agree! These progressions can be used as a start point for composing, then you can make some little changes (or not). As you said here this doesn't mean that you are not original or that you are stealing a song... and this neither mean that you will always get a hit song.
Don't miss this page where the author wrote all the progressions that he found! it's amazing!

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet...;hl=en_US#gid=0