i know things just aren't quite right
September 29, 2010 9:32 AM Subscribe
I am trying to record a simple cover version of a fairly obscure song ("Mr Loveman" by Yvonne Carroll), but my confidence in my ability to work out even simple chord changes is pretty low and the song can't be found on any of the usual sites. Could someone please help me out with the chords here?
I think it uses fairly standard doo-wop progressions but I want to make sure I've got it right, especially in the chorus/middle eight section.
The song isn't on YouTube or Spotify, but I've uploaded an mp3 here for anyone who fancies a go.
I think it uses fairly standard doo-wop progressions but I want to make sure I've got it right, especially in the chorus/middle eight section.
The song isn't on YouTube or Spotify, but I've uploaded an mp3 here for anyone who fancies a go.
Best answer:
posted by dfan at 11:04 AM on September 29, 2010
Bb - V: Bb - Gm - Eb F Bb - Gm F Eb - F - Bb - V: Bb - Gm - Eb F Bb - Gm F Eb - F - Bb Bb7 B: Eb F Bb D Gm Bb7 Eb C F - V: Bb - Gm - Eb F Bb - Gm F Eb - F - Bb - F - Bb -
posted by dfan at 11:04 AM on September 29, 2010
I didn't explicitly hear the 7s that JohnMarston did, but they certainly wouldn't hurt.
posted by dfan at 11:05 AM on September 29, 2010
posted by dfan at 11:05 AM on September 29, 2010
Best answer: Also, If you are playing this on guitar, it might be easier for you if you put a capo on the third fret and transpose the chords so that...
Bb = G
Gm = Em
Eb = C
F = D
D = B
C = A
..and so on.
posted by chillmost at 2:59 PM on September 29, 2010
Bb = G
Gm = Em
Eb = C
F = D
D = B
C = A
..and so on.
posted by chillmost at 2:59 PM on September 29, 2010
I know this isn't in the OPs question, but does anyone have a beginners guide to how to begin hearing the chords yourself and transposing and things like that. I'd love to be able to do that!
posted by lakerk at 4:03 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by lakerk at 4:03 PM on September 29, 2010
Short answer is to just work out a bunch of songs, and try writing your own. You'll soon start to hear how chords relate to each other.
Long answer:
Learn to distinguish major and minor chords by ear, and learn what a 7 or a 7sus4 chord sounds like.
Learn the most common progressions in the kinds of music you listen to.
For a particular song:
First work out the key. This is usually the first and last chord (but not always). Is it major or minor?
(in what follows, lowercase means minor and UPPERCASE means major)
If major:
The most important chords are I, IV and V. (That's C, F and G maj if you're in C). You'll soon be able to recognize these as soon as your hear them. The V is often a V7.
If you hear minor chords in a major key song, they are probably the vi or iii chords (that's Am and Em if you're in C).
Unidentified major chords are likely to be II, III or VIIb. Listen to the bass note to identify them -- it will often be the root.
If minor:
The most important chords are i, IV, v. Again, you'll soon learn to hear them. If you hear a major chord that isn't IV, it's probably IIIb, VIb or VIIb.
Again, listen to the bass. It almost always gives you a clue to the root note.
Once you have done this enough you will be able to play many songs after hearing them just once.
Most importantly, write each chord down as you work it out. Most songs are very simple and only have a couple of tricky chords.
Finally, google 'SONGNAME TAB'.
posted by unSane at 6:20 PM on September 30, 2010
Long answer:
Learn to distinguish major and minor chords by ear, and learn what a 7 or a 7sus4 chord sounds like.
Learn the most common progressions in the kinds of music you listen to.
For a particular song:
First work out the key. This is usually the first and last chord (but not always). Is it major or minor?
(in what follows, lowercase means minor and UPPERCASE means major)
If major:
The most important chords are I, IV and V. (That's C, F and G maj if you're in C). You'll soon be able to recognize these as soon as your hear them. The V is often a V7.
If you hear minor chords in a major key song, they are probably the vi or iii chords (that's Am and Em if you're in C).
Unidentified major chords are likely to be II, III or VIIb. Listen to the bass note to identify them -- it will often be the root.
If minor:
The most important chords are i, IV, v. Again, you'll soon learn to hear them. If you hear a major chord that isn't IV, it's probably IIIb, VIb or VIIb.
Again, listen to the bass. It almost always gives you a clue to the root note.
Once you have done this enough you will be able to play many songs after hearing them just once.
Most importantly, write each chord down as you work it out. Most songs are very simple and only have a couple of tricky chords.
Finally, google 'SONGNAME TAB'.
posted by unSane at 6:20 PM on September 30, 2010
If minor:
The most important chords are i, IV, v.
Technically a song that's in a minor key, as opposed to a minor mode, should have a (major) V chord. The distinction between mode vs. key isn't important, but the V i progression is very common and easy to hear and a good thing to listen for.
Also I'd add that it's a good idea to understand secondary dominants. For instance, there are three different secondary dominants in the bridge of the OP's song -- the D is a V/vi, the Bb7 is a V/IV, and the C is a V/V.
posted by JohnMarston at 6:30 PM on September 30, 2010
The most important chords are i, IV, v.
Technically a song that's in a minor key, as opposed to a minor mode, should have a (major) V chord. The distinction between mode vs. key isn't important, but the V i progression is very common and easy to hear and a good thing to listen for.
Also I'd add that it's a good idea to understand secondary dominants. For instance, there are three different secondary dominants in the bridge of the OP's song -- the D is a V/vi, the Bb7 is a V/IV, and the C is a V/V.
posted by JohnMarston at 6:30 PM on September 30, 2010
Yeah, sorry, it all gets a bit theoretical doesn't it? In rock/blues you hear the i, IV. v kind of tonality much more than i, IV, V. But really the most important thing is to be able to hear relative chords. So no matter if the song is in C, or Ab or whatever, you can listen to it and think "Oh, yeah, that's the root... that's the dominant... that's the iii"... and so on. It seems intimidating at first but for a song in any particular key there are a very limited number of possible chords at any particular moment.
A lot of it revolves around recognizing cadences and transitions... it's very easy to learn to hear a IV-I or a V7-I or a IV7-i cadence, or a I-iii change, or a ii-V7-I sequence. Once you can hear those youre about 75% of the way to being able to play from ear
Anyway, the point is to learn how one chord relates to another, so that when you hear (say) a I-V-vi-VI sequence, you recognize it no matter what key it starts out in, and can therefore transpose it pretty much instantly into any other key.
posted by unSane at 8:39 PM on September 30, 2010
A lot of it revolves around recognizing cadences and transitions... it's very easy to learn to hear a IV-I or a V7-I or a IV7-i cadence, or a I-iii change, or a ii-V7-I sequence. Once you can hear those youre about 75% of the way to being able to play from ear
Anyway, the point is to learn how one chord relates to another, so that when you hear (say) a I-V-vi-VI sequence, you recognize it no matter what key it starts out in, and can therefore transpose it pretty much instantly into any other key.
posted by unSane at 8:39 PM on September 30, 2010
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|| Eb | F | Bb D7 | Gm Bb7 | Eb | C7 | F | F7 ||
posted by JohnMarston at 10:00 AM on September 29, 2010