writing a song

[MariaMonkee]

I just wrote a song, and I have the lyrics and the melody, and some guitar chords, but I'm haveing problems picking them out. I've never had any formal lessons, but I can read and write music. Is there any way to find chords that sound right with certain notes?

[cyberfret]

I think in the beginning it is a lot harder to write chords to a melody without understand theory. Writing the chords first and then finding some melody notes that work with the chords is easier to start with.

I would try and learn as much about music theory as possible. This will help you understand chord construction, keys, etc.

For instance if you are singing an A note, you might play any type of A chord......A, Am, A7 Asus2... (A is the root) or or and F chord (A is the third), or Gadd9 (A is the 9), or lots of other possibilities.

Start with the theory section here at Cyberfret.com, but also seek out some other theory sources. The more you know about theory, the more this will help you craft your songs. You will not necessarily use the theory as the basis for your song. I will still get the germ of an idea by just noodleing on the piano or guitar without thinking about theory.....just finding sounds instinctively. But then I will use my theory knowledge to help craft the song.

Theory Section
http://www.cyberfret.com/theory/index.php

--Shawn

[Coffee]

Maria. Do you know what key it's in?

[blackbird]

Interesting that this should have been brought up by someone else just now. I've got a related question, and maybe an answer to it would help maria... If I want to put a strum pattern (some chords) to a melody, here's what I'd assume I'd do:
Find the key the actual song (melody) is in, then put together a selection of chords that are in the same key by using scales in that key as a basis. Then, just fiddle with what chords sound best when applied to the melody. Am I way off base, or is this something along the lines of the (correct) answer Maria was looking for? I'm just hypothesizing, so please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd hate to propagate incorrect inforamation. :-)

[Coffee]

You got it. Say the key of C. Here's how it works. In the key of C major, the notes are all naturals right? That is, the notes in the scale are C D E F G A B. What does this have to do with chords, how about this. The chords available are C Dm Em F G7 Am Bdim and C.

The most common progression is 1, 4, 5, 1 in other words in the key of C the chords C F G7 C.

Now try this Key of G starts on G, and has 1 sharp F#. Chords in the key are G Am Bm C D7 Em F#dim. Apply the progression 1, 4, 5 and 1. The new progression is G C D7 G. Sound familiar? It's the same progression as the one above, just in a different key. In major keys the chords are diatonically (remaining strictly within the notes of the kay) (1) Major, (2) minor, (3) minor, (4) major,
(5) dominant 7th, (6) minor, (7) diminished. Now before somebody goes crazy there, let me note that in blues and rock there are progressions that use all dominant 7th chords. Correct, however these progressions are not diatonic in nature (and I love them), but this article is about diatonic harmonies. So...

What about minor key progressions? Okay here's the fun part. The key of A minor is called the relative minor of C. Any idea why? The only difference between the key of C and the key of A minor is the note that the scale starts on. The relative minor keys root (first note in the scale) starts on a note a minor 3 (3 frets down) from the Major keys root. All notes within the key of A minor (diatonic) are natural notes as well. It is the note it starts on that makes all the difference.

Now back to our 1, 4, 5, 1 progression. Try it using the chords from the C major scale but use Am as the 1 chord. You get Am, Dm, Em, Am. The key of G's relative minor is what... 3 frets down from G is key of E minor right? Using Em as the first chord in the progression for 1, 4, 5, 1 is.. Em, Am, Bm, Em.

This can be used in any key.

Maria. If you want to post the chords, I can give you a hand with the chords. If the chords don't seem to fit, it could be that you have altered notes in the melody in which case you would need to post the melody. You can do this privately if you wish too... I'd be glad to help out.

If you need clarification on this post, please don't hesitate.

[Warhorse]

Use the scale your melody is in to build chords over it.

For example there are 7 notes in a mode of the major scale ,so take the 1st,3rd and 5th notes of the mode ure melody is in and see what chord it makes when put together. Then take the 2nd,4th and 6th note to get another chord and so on.

1st,3rd and 5th
2nd,4th and 6th
3rd, 5th and 7th
4th,6th and 1st etc.

For example if i was using the A major scale
my 1st note would be a A
my 3rd note would be a C#
and my 5th note would be a E

what chord is made up of A,C# and E?
A Major