13
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
You could also ask “why do artists outside of the country genre use complex chords instead of the simpler harmonies of country music?” The complex harmonies are not necessarily better.
In the country ...
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11
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What exactly does it mean to "play over the changes"
Some players will tend to use, for example, the A pent min. scale notes all through a 12 bar in A. It sort of works, if they're careful (or lucky!) but when playing the changes, they will tend to use ...
- 193k
10
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What exactly does it mean to "play over the changes"
I'm not sure of any stylistic implications, but my understanding has always been that "the changes" simply refer to the chords themselves---in other words, the chord "changes" that make up the ...
- 84.5k
9
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Why was "A" called "a good country key"?
A lot of country stuff is written on guitar to be played on guitar. A is just about perfect for playing, as it will use the I, IV and V of A - A, D and E in open position, making the three open bottom ...
- 193k
9
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
One of the important roots of country music is the folk music brought to the Appalachians by European (particularly Irish) immigrants in the late 18th and early 19th century, with influences from ...
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7
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
I think it is hard to answer a question like this in any other way than with an opinion, even if it is based on some experience.
When I look at a general cross section of country bands, there are, in ...
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
I'd say it's for the same reason that pop music is like that: sticking to triads creates a mood of straightforward, pure, clear emotion. This comes right down from Celtic music--would you enjoy Danny ...
- 618
5
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Why was "A" called "a good country key"?
I'd say it's probably a joke in that context, but it contains a kernel of truth: A might be the easiest key to play on a guitar for simple progressions. (Maybe that's part of the joke.) You can play ...
- 6,833
5
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Country music elements
There are many eras and styles of country music, and each has characteristic rhythms, instrumentation and techniques.
The Origin: Ralph Peer goes to Bristol, TN, to record local musicians, including ...
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4
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
Country music (aka Country and Western) features...
Let me stop you right there. The "Country" chart was originally the "Hillbilly" chart. "Western" was "Western ...
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4
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
It depends on what one calls country music.
What I heard today I don't really consider country. I call it everything but.
I remember the old days of country music, mostly because I am old enough to ...
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
The quote has been attributed to many, but country music is "three chords and the truth." Harlan Howard said it first.
The musicianship in country has typically taken a backseat to lyrical ...
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How to avoid being pianocentric in my compositions?
Look up the scores of idiomatic guitar pieces (Tárrega's a good composer for this--he incorporates advanced guitar-specific techniques into his pieces). Listen to them, too. Do this for several, if ...
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What exactly does it mean to "play over the changes"
Brian Wampler has actually explained what he means in this podcast, so I'll include it here for completeness.
In short, basing his solos around the chord shapes of ...
- 2,056
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
Because that's the style of what we call "Country Music". The "3-chord trick" plus maybe a few more. There's no "why" beyond that simple fact. If a songwriter wrote more complex harmonies or a ...
- 93k
2
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country singing harmony
Much Country harmony is improvised on the spot, and does usually, as you say, fall into the category of 3rds & 6ths and 4ths and 5ths. I advise the people who are going to be doing the ...
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2
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Why does this song sound sad even though it is uptempo-ish and in a major key?
Probably the words, and the singer's tone of voice, more than the music!
- 93k
2
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Why does this song sound sad even though it is uptempo-ish and in a major key?
I think it's mostly because of the frequent use of the words "dead" and "die."
There are two musical elements to consider, though. One is harmony: a "happy" ...
- 22.9k
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Why does this song sound sad even though it is uptempo-ish and in a major key?
I think there's several factors to it.
People have mentioned the lyrics. I admit I missed a lot, but the parts I did catch kinda confirm it isn't exactly sunshine.
Someone also mentioned a general ...
- 2,504
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Accepted
Which string instruments/playing techniques were used for Nashville Sound country music?
I don’t have much knowledge of country music history but since you have no answers and this type of string writing transcends genres I’ll tell you a bit about the strings on these recordings. Both ...
- 26.5k
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Is there a name to this piano element from Country Music?
I would say he is commenting or paraphrasing the soloist.
Look up paraphrase in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
A paraphrase /ˈpærəfreɪz/ is a restatement of the meaning of a text or passage using ...
- 25.9k
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vote
What are common western saloon instruments?
To add to your list:
Upright Piano
Accordion
Harmonica
Acoustic Guitar
Banjo
Violin (Fiddle)
- 256
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vote
country singing harmony
Often country harmony is accompanied a third above the main melody. Here sare some examples. The instrumentals also exhibit typical harmony. Here are some examples which explain things better than I ...
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Picking equipment for learning Country Guitar in an apartment.
You can go with the decent ASIO soundcard (Focusrite 2i2 is one cheap good choice) + some guitar plugins (I use Overloud TH2, Bias FX. You can go cheaper and simpler with Toontrack EZMix + some ...
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Picking equipment for learning Country Guitar in an apartment.
In terms of technique, it doesn't matter.
In terms of sounding like you want to sound playing country music, I suggest you get a headphone amp that allows you to adjust the effects to the sound you'...
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What exactly does it mean to "play over the changes"
"Over the changes" (to me) is a relative perception and no one is necessarily going to see it in the same way. 'For me' it is about a few things ... my timing relative to the rhythm section, my choice ...
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Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?
I'll attempt a scientific answer which might partially explain this, but I should also say up front that I believe there is a large social/cultural component to this which is explained well in the ...
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