DankBudz - Posted - 04/08/2023:  13:05:08

Hello everyone! I've been playing clawhammer for a few years and I know music theory well enough as banjo is my 3rd instrument, but for some reason I've never been that good at figuring out the chords to a song.

I know that you're supposed to find the tonic and go from there, but after that I end up confusing myself and it gets too tedious sometimes. I'm wondering if anyone knows any tips or tricks to make it easier to figure out the exact chords in a song.

Thanks for reading and feel free to share your methodology for learning the chords of a song!

BobbyE - Posted - 04/08/2023:  13:44:43

IMO you're going to have to learn the chords that are in the key the song is written in. To me, that would be half the battle. Unless the song has an undue amount of chords the I, II, IV, and V chords are usually going to cover a lot of the songs. From there get the minor for songs that consists of four chords. There are always exceptions but I think this would go a long way toward helping you figure it out.  Also you can 'google,' a song if it is pretty well known and get the chords.  If you want to play it jin a different key than is given, you can follow the chord progression for that key by using what is shown in your search as a pattern. 



Bobby

Edited by - BobbyE on 04/08/2023 13:47:30

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 04/08/2023:  13:50:23

Maybe this is enough to get you started:



The last chord is (almost) always the tonic, or "1" chord. (The first often is, but by no means always!) The second-to-last chord is usually (maybe 90% or more of the time in traditional-style songs) the 5 chord. The most common chords in any key are 1, 4, and 5. A 2 chord (if major) is almost always followed by a 5 chord. The commonest minor chord is a 6m.



(This all applies to major keys, by the way; for minor keys there'll be some different guidelines.)

Start by figuring out what key the song is in. (In other words, what is the last chord?) Once you know that, you can figure out what the 4 and 5 (and any other) chords are in that key. Then figure out what the first chord of the song is. From there, try to identify the places where the chord changes, and what it changes to at those places. (Be careful not to get seduced by dramatic leaps in the melody, or by the beginning of a new line or phrase. Sometimes those correspond to chord changes, but not always!)



You'll get better at it the more you do it. Eventually you'll simply recognize the sound of a 1 changing to a 4, or a 5 to a 1, or whatever.

Edited by - Ira Gitlin on 04/08/2023 13:58:21

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 04/08/2023:  13:55:01

You must not have been a bass player, their main job is to play the roots of the chords, which alone would be boring so they alternate roots with fifths and walk the scale to lead the band's ears to the upcoming chord. Close the door after you and listen from outside to hear mainly the bass for clarity. BTW you can learn to play the bass part on any instrument, it just won't be in the same octave.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 04/08/2023:  14:10:33

One of the best ways I found to figure out chords is to be able to hear the chord changes and eventually, you'll feel one coming up. Go to jams, if you can, if you play guitar, watch the rhythm guitar picker and when he changes chords, you do, too. That will get your ear attuned to listening for not only the chord being played but any walk ups or walk downs which will lead you to another chord.

If there are no jams in your area, you might try Band in a Box (rather pricey but worth the money) and input chords to songs you know, then watch as the chords change, listen to the difference in the chords. Practice with songs that you know, doing just backup, strumming, vamping, and try walking up or down to a different chord. That should help your ear get used to the up and down walks and make it easier for you to change chords.

There is no magic bullet or easy trick for figuring out chords. It takes lots of woodshedding and jamming, playing with friends, playing with backup tracks.

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 04/08/2023:  14:48:14

Some good tips above, but Sherry's, I think, is the best.

One issue with clawhammer is that many common tunes are not in the usual major or minor keys, but are modal. They simply don't always follow the usual I,IV,V progressions. That's where lots of listening, playing with others, and some experimenting will come in handy.

If you can't figure out what chord to play, at least at a jam, you can ask. You can probably find some tunes on the internet in standard notation or as lead sheets.

DankBudz - Posted - 04/08/2023:  17:28:53

Thanks for the advice! I think my problem is that I'm very scatter brained and over I over think it too much. I'm very improvisational and like to just make stuff up and forget it cuz I can always just make up my own jam. When it comes to sitting down and focusing on a songs notes or chords it just feels so tedious and I have trouble focusing on it for long.
I'll keep practicing and listening, and I'll try to go about it the way you said. Thanks for the replies!