Is this Copyright protected?

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NYPianoguy

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On a cd recording, the artist "doodles" on the piano between songs. What comes out is really just a chord progression, but no real melody, no singing, no lyrics, just to play while he introduces next song. I write an entire song based on this which does have melody, lyrics and typical song structure. Does that original artist have copyright protection for what they played on the recording?
 
I think you already know the answer to this and that's why you are asking the question....
Why don't you either contact the artist and ask if you can use his original material or write your own song?
 
No-one can copyright a chord progression.

If you are using a chord progression, to which you've added melody and lyrics, then you are good to go. There is no copyright issue.
 
"I think you already know the answer to this and that's why you are asking the question"

....Really though, I woudn't waste my time on this forum if that was the case. Bottom line, this is a major big artist, anything remotely smelling of copyright infringement, believe me, they'll let you know. Some local indie guy, kinda doubt it. But the biggies don't screw around and when you get a "cease and desist" order in the mail from an attorney, maybe you'd be more cautious the next time. No, I personally have never had one delivered to me but do know of artists who have.
 
Part II. I am writing my own song. As I said, it's inspired from this riff.
 
I realized that while yes, it is a chord progression, but it's really more a riff, which in itself has melody although there's no singer and no lyric. So like a guitar player solo and someone wants to replay it, requires permission. It's not just a chord progression which are obviously not copyright protected. Therefore, what I'm using would require permission. So case closed!
 
My response may have seemed harsh... We are all influenced from somewhere weve all written something that sounds familliar.... Just mess it up abit eventually it will be yours.
 
It's a really thin line.
I've taken riffs or melodies from pieces, made them the bass part and changed the form and time signature, put a new melody and harmonies there and basically it's unrecognizable from what was originally there.
Similarly, I've had records where the writer of the piece explain that they took a line from a sax solo but then worked something totally different from it.
Then there's the kind of blatant theft like the Deep Purple classic "Child in time" which lifts wholesale the riff from It's a beautiful day's "Bombay calling". Now, even though Purple take their song in a different direction, the riff in both songs is central to both songs. If you were humming "Child in time" or "Bombay calling" to yourself, chances are you'd hum the riff. It's not a part either song can exist without.
There are probably thousands of examples like this. And therefore, to me, it depends. Legally I don't know, but realistically, much is dependent on how central to the song you're "borrowing"/'stealing' from the bit you're appropriating is. And how much does it 'make' the song you're writing.
 
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