LoGLessons - 3 Chord

-3 Chord-

***Having a song completely written around the 3 chord is rare. People will definitely use this sound (minor, b2, b6) but usually only for moments as opposed to the entire song. Most of these songs will fit into this description. Songs written around Spicy 3 are FAR more common.***

Wherever I May Roam

- Metallica -

Key of C

Main riff is written around Em, b2. However the song deviates from this sound at moments.

Verse:

Em - F (3 - 4)

Vocals in:

Em - Bb - Am - Bb
Em - Bb - Gm - Bb

This section is interesting as it starts with Em, but then moves to Bb - Am. This is effectively a key change, specifically moving to a key where Am has now become the 3 chord, and Bb is the 4 chord (key of F). Second repetition continues this, an Em followed by the same key change (key of F) except now plays Bb - Gm (4 and 2). Feels fairly normal as the original key C (where Em is 3) is only one note different from the key change, F.

Later on in the song the main riff is repeated with spicy 3 instead of the normal minor 3.

Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun

- Pink Floyd -

Key of C

Main riff is written around Em, b2. However the song deviates from this sound at moments.

Verse:

Em - F (3 - 4)

Vocals in:

Em - Bb - Am - Bb
Em - Bb - Gm - Bb

This section is interesting as it starts with Em, but then moves to Bb - Am. This is effectively a key change, specifically moving to a key where Am has now become the 3 chord, and Bb is the 4 chord (key of F). Second repetition continues this, an Em followed by the same key change (key of F) except now plays Bb - Gm (4 and 2). Feels fairly normal as the original key C (where Em is 3) is only one note different from the key change, F.

Later on in the song the main riff is repeated with spicy 3 instead of the normal minor 3.

Repentless

- Slayer -

There are multiple pitch centers, but pretty much all of them feature b2.

0:34

Pitch Center = Eb

riff is made up of 1-b2-b7, with hits of 4 - b5 (A-Bb)

0:40

Bunch of pitch centers. First one is Ab, next is Db, next is F, last is Db. They all have b2's played alongside. So riff is (all power chords):

A - Bb D
Db - Bb Gb
F - Bb D
Db (riff)

Vocals in at 1:08

Pitch center F, just 1 - b2

This is typical of this style. No real key but heavy use of sounds that exist in a key, such as minor pentatonic (usually what the vocal melodies are) and minor b2 (sound of the 3 chord, and often what the riffs are made of).

Moral of the story, if you want to sound like this play a ton of b2, b7, b3, etc. Maybe some b5 for flavor. And play very fast.