So, I wrote what I feel is a very catchy, 2-chord section of a song. It could be either a verse or a chorus, not sure yet. But I wrote it MONTHS ago. It consists of 2 minor chords (Em and C#m). The roadblock I'm hitting now is that I'm SO used to this after several months, that any chord change I try to throw in to change up the song simply doesn't sound correct. Sure, I know some songs exist on only 2 chords, but I feel it might be too monotonous. Any suggestions on something to try?
Getting past a two-chord roadblock
- Thread starter libertad
- Start date
Chili
Site Moderator
Agreed. You can keep the same two chords going throughout the song and change melody and arrangement for verse and chorus.
Or... have you tried A, D, Bm. They will be in the same key as the C#m and the Em would be the odd-ball becaue the E *should* be a major chord., but it works. Of course, a lot depends on how you're playing the song, too. Without hearing what you got, we can only speculate.
Or... have you tried A, D, Bm. They will be in the same key as the C#m and the Em would be the odd-ball becaue the E *should* be a major chord., but it works. Of course, a lot depends on how you're playing the song, too. Without hearing what you got, we can only speculate.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
Right.
Two chords can work, but it can make the song monotonous as the OP has realized...even if you change up the melody....especially two minor chords.
Of course....if you are doing Emo music....it might sound great.
DM60
Well-known member
Seems like you are really playing in Key of E, maybe laying off or muting the G string. You could go E - C#m - A - B common chord progression.
You could try and a hard stop, key change say to a B (G#m) or an A (F#m), see if that can break you out.
Or as Greg stated, let the notes of the key take over to form a melody just to break it up.
Lots of ways you could go, but I am sure there is something in your head where it is taking you. The real question is, how to get there.
Hope something helps you move it forward.
You could try and a hard stop, key change say to a B (G#m) or an A (F#m), see if that can break you out.
Or as Greg stated, let the notes of the key take over to form a melody just to break it up.
Lots of ways you could go, but I am sure there is something in your head where it is taking you. The real question is, how to get there.
Hope something helps you move it forward.
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
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This is a reply that can't really be questioned.
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
It's something of a fallacy that you need lots of chords and chord changes to spice things up and make a song interesting.
It's also something of a fallacy that two or three chords guarantees balls and simplicity.
Some really complex stuff can be weaved in around a two chord figure. In fact, if your melodic ideas are strong enough, you could stick on one chord.
The key {ha ! No pun intended} is how it all meshes together to create moods and effects, not whether there's only a chord or two or ten in it.
It's also something of a fallacy that two or three chords guarantees balls and simplicity.
Some really complex stuff can be weaved in around a two chord figure. In fact, if your melodic ideas are strong enough, you could stick on one chord.
The key {ha ! No pun intended} is how it all meshes together to create moods and effects, not whether there's only a chord or two or ten in it.
famous beagle
Well-known member
This is the same kind of progression as "Light my Fire" by the Doors, only you're playing it with Em and C#m instead of Am and F#m. They were able to break out of it with a nifty little IV V I for the chorus and make a million dollars. Maybe you can too! 
Good luck.
Good luck.