Return to RobinFrederick.com

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *

STRATEGY FOR THE DAY: Be a maximalist.

Here's a question that was posted in my guestbook:

"Ok, I read in part of your 'how to write a song' thing that using chord progressions from other songs isn't illegal. Im wanting to know if that is actually true or not because of all these guitar tab websites being attacked for having them.

--------------------------------------

Because I recommend that songwriters, especially people who are new to songwriting, use the song form and chord progressions of hit songs as a guide to writing new songs, I often get asked this question. It's true - no one can copyright a chord progression. Chord progressions are available to anyone.

For example, one of the most common chord progressions is based on the first, fourth, and fifth notes of a scale ( I, IV, V). This progression, and variations of it, are so common, they are referred to as 'ice cream changes' for their sweetness and familiarity. Another common chord progressio is I, VIm, IV, V. This is perhaps best known as the chord progression to "Heart and Soul" and every kid on the planet can play it on piano till it drives you nuts. It is also the progression to "Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)", the rock version of "Blue Moon" and, guess what, Sting's "Every Breath you Take" (with the chords held twice as long). And that's just four out of dozens that use this progression. Another, similar progression is I, IIm, IV, V. This is the chord basis for the 1960's hit "Groovin'"as well as the 1990's hit by Savage Garden "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You."
You can find more common progressions at this web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/chord-progression

Chord progressions remain popular across decades, song styles, and music genres. Songwriters and genres may add frills and flourishes but the chords often remain the same at their heart, especially in mainstream genres like country, rock, and pop.

I don't know what the legal problem is for web sites that post guitar tabs. It could be because they are naming a specific song - 'Here are the tabs for "Your Song"'. A publisher could threaten legal action over that because the publisher wants to (and has the exclusive right to) publish the sheet music, including the chords, for that song. But if you wanted to write an original melody and lyric using those chords, you'd be within your legal rights. You can then post your song on the web if you want to with those chords and no one can stop you so long as the words and the melody are original.

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *

Read A Brief History Of Love Songs by Robin Frederick at the Sound Experience Music web site.

Copyright 2006 Robin Frederick. All rights reserved.