Single chord songs

Tom Margulies · Post by **Tom Margulies** » 25 Jun 2014 3:09 pm

I was reading something by the late Bob Brozeman about the origin of the blues and modal playing in a single chord.

I could think of a few single chord songs. Can you add any to the following list:

Chain of Fools
Hammer blues (Charlie Patton)
Run Through the Jungle (CCR)
Bad to the Bone
Coconut (Nillson)

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 25 Jun 2014 3:24 pm

Here's one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xKckHzzzfg
And here's another:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcTWxJAGQVQ

Tom Margulies · Post by **Tom Margulies** » 25 Jun 2014 3:38 pm

And a third:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd61M256RfM

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 25 Jun 2014 8:23 pm

Stoney LaRue has one appropriately titled One Chord Song

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 25 Jun 2014 8:39 pm

Rockit (Herbie Hancock)

Chain Of Fools (Aretha Franklin)

The Beat Goes On (Sonny & Cher)

Land Of A Thousand Dances (Wilson Pickett)

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 26 Jun 2014 4:16 am

"Slunky" an instrumental on Clapton first solo album.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 26 Jun 2014 8:27 am

Here's the gold standard of one chord songs or as Sam Phillips said when he first heard Wolf: "This is where the soul of man never dies":

Howlin' Wolf "Smokestack Lightnin'" (1956)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ri7TcukAJ8

"Moanin' at Midnight" (1951) (with the magnificent Willie Johnson on guitar - the only guitar player ever was)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU_wUcwooc8

A lot of people say Wolf got his thing from Patton - but listen to Tommy Johnson:

"Cool Drink of Water Blues" (1928)- (2 chords same vamp)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o808EmOu ... FT&index=1

Charley Patton "Mississippi Boll Weevil Blues" (1929)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU3A44SRAos

"Pea Vine Blues" (1929)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GznTA-uwQh4

Patton w/ Bertha Lee Patton "Troubled 'Bout My Mother" (1934)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0OZKQM0PYA

Eddie Cunningham · Post by **Eddie Cunningham** » 26 Jun 2014 8:35 am

Olde Hanks "Honkey Tonkin" is pretty much all one chord exept for a quick drop to a couple beat "5" chord that you really didn't need !! olde geze - AKA Eddie C"

Bob Ritter · Post by **Bob Ritter** » 28 Jun 2014 7:18 pm

The Bo Diddley beat .

Dean Rimmer · Post by **Dean Rimmer** » 29 Jun 2014 5:58 pm

snake farm........blank blank... were from texas.......you know who......cool dude

Ollin Landers · Post by **Ollin Landers** » 30 Jun 2014 5:00 am

Anything John Lee Hooker played (LOL)

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Jun 2014 6:30 am

Don't Bug Me When I'm Working by Little Village.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 30 Jun 2014 8:26 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:"Slunky" an instrumental on Clapton first solo album.

That's the first one I thought of when I saw the topic title. I've always liked that song. A great groove, and in my opinion Clapton's playing on it is outstanding.

As far as I'm concerned that album is the last time EC played really great guitar. The switch from his previous thick "woman" tone to the much cleaner, bright, biting Strat sounds really inspired him.

Alas, after Derek and the Dominos, which continued in the same vein but less focused, he seems to have lost the feeling and ever since has gone back to thick overdrive and always sounds like he's trying too hard.

Just my opinions, of course.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 30 Jun 2014 9:44 am

I've always liked that song. A great groove, and in my opinion Clapton's playing on it is outstanding.

The whole album was great, Brint. One of the few I know inside out. I always anticipate the next title when I hear it.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 30 Jun 2014 3:09 pm

Beautiful chord changes are what makes music worth listening to, if you ask me, which you didn't, so if your song has just one chord, you better have the deepest groove, and this one has the deepest groove I know of:
King Floyd - Baby Let Me Kiss You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZv74RgPyXQ

Ken Campbell · Post by **Ken Campbell** » 30 Jun 2014 6:07 pm

King Floyd is like...

Huh! Everything I do is gonna be funky from now on........

Way deep groove....

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 1 Jul 2014 2:43 am

Yeah, one-chord songs better have a big phat groove. Here's Groovelatin' Acid Blues by Ron Levy and the late Lowell Fulson from some years back - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ewJJkiQUHM

Actually, I was putting a band together a few years ago and one bass player backed out after playing this. He said, "Man, one-chord songs don't do it for me." Generally, I agree, but sometimes the groove is so deep it doesn't matter.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 5 Jul 2014 9:04 am

"High Time We Went"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsoApjw3j_Y

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 6 Jul 2014 3:07 pm

" Poppa was a Rolling Stone " by the Temptations

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 10 Jul 2014 9:46 pm

This is in the 1 chord the entire tune. It does modulate a whole step...

Buddy Emmons - Triple Play

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 11 Jul 2014 6:08 am

Back Door Man Willie Dixon

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 11 Jul 2014 7:12 am

Earnest Bovine wrote:...this one has the deepest groove I know of:
King Floyd - Baby Let Me Kiss You

That's a deep groove alright, Mr. B. I will submit this one as having the deepest groove that I know of:

James Brown -- Licking Stick - Licking Stick (Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNwPDLl4eak

Although repetitious to the max, this just has to go down as one of the coolest and most hypnotic bass parts of all time. Bassmen, just try to keep this going for four and a half minutes straight without losing that groove. Not as easy as one may think.

Yup, just one Eb9 chord chuggin' along like a locomotive -- no key change, no quick V chord, no turnaround -- nothin' but groove! Horns...

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 12 Jul 2014 10:09 am

"When it Rains it Really Pours".

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Single chord songs

Single chord songs

1 chord songs

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