Almost every song in the pop charts is built around the same four chords. And it's nothing new – they're the same three chords that Pachelbel used in his famous Canon. But why do we keep coming back ...

Perhaps nothing epitomized the accessible DIY nature of punk more than what iconic fanzine Sideburns quipped in its first issue back in 1977: ‘This is a chord. This is another. This is a third. NOW ...

Transatlanticism is even more muscular, with particular emphasis given to Walla’s guitar work. Gibbard has evolved into one of indie rock’s most soulful vocalists, and his lyrics have shed much ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. You’ve heard jokes about the likes of Status Quo or Chuck Berry writing songs with three chords, ...

The Beatles can attest to having completed most of 'the music game', but even we were surprised to learn George Harrison ...

Johnny Cash's Hurt hits way different in A Major, as much so as Ring of Fire in G Minor. The dissonance in tone between the chords is, ahem, a minor one: simply the third note lowered to a flat. But ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Which comes first: chords or meloody? That's the chicken and egg question facing any music maker ...