How do you figure out the chords of a song?

[hyperous]

This question has buzzed in my mind for a very long time, I've asked people and they said it comes to them naturally.. Of course perfect pitch, which I do have, plays a good part, but still, figuring out chords is a problem for me.

I've tried reading up and all they say are:

1) Listen out for bass notes. They usually play the root of the chord.
I do agree, but some chords are like minor with add7, and all that?

2) Play it on your own guitar till you find it.

3) Google and find the chords (which I try not to do so I can figure them out on my own)

Is figuring out chords that tough, or is there a secret method that you guys know of?

Hope to hear your opinions!

 

[karlie]

hey man! wow perfect pitch, thats damn good ah.
hmm, anyway, i guess theory would have to play in part in this (in my opinion)
Knowing your chords would be a good way to start, like er, major = Root 3rd 5th so on and so forth. Then knowing how these chords actually sound like will give you a major boost, like a Dom7 chord would sound a certain particular way. From all these, its easier to figure out the chords. Also, lets say for most genres, they follow a certain pattern in the way they come up with the chords, the diatonic chord progression. Usually when you know the key you're in, you would know all the chords associated with it. I suggest googling on the diatonic chord progression! anyway hoped i helped! haha
cheers!

 

[kerplunk182]

I can't remember how i figured out the chords for songs. Hahaha. I think i was playing around and i'm like "Hmm, sounds like _____. Then try playing different progressions"

 

[shinobi]

1) Listen out for bass notes. They usually play the root of the chord.
I do agree, but some chords are like minor with add7, and all that?

depends on the bassline. alot of times the bassline opens up the chord. from there you could easily tell if it's a major or minor key. if not, chord progressions will help you out.

alot of people underrate the importance of music theory in bass playing, because the bass usually plays one note at a time. but you don't play music note to note; you play entire bars or parts at a time

 

[XLayaR]

Haha, best is still just download the tabs lah......if not slowly figure out the chords yourself lor......knowing your artist's playing style is ALOT OF HELP.....like if they like to use power chords? variated chords? what kinda scale they usually play in? helps you alot in figuring ONE PARTICULAR artist's works.....

 

[justheretolook]

Get the bassline notes, find the chords associated with it. Most importantly, tune your guitar to the song your listening to.

 

[velvetrevolver]

or you can always place a tuner beside the speaker from which the music is coming out from, and try your very, very best to catch what the tuner's needles are showing. this can be very tricky, as tuners are sensitive, and picks up every single noise and show you a note. you can actually cough into it and it will show a "G". well for my cough it was "G" at least. lol.

 

[Cheez]

Hyperous, if you have perfect pitch, then it should come naturally. I'm surprised it has not.

Anyway, the best way is to practice your aural skills according to the traditional method. First, you need to know how major and minor chords sound like. I believe that shouldn't be a problem. Next, applying theory, you'll know that in a major scale, for example, chords I, IV, and V are major chords, ii, iii, vi are minor and vii is diminished. Then keep practicing listening:

Eg: C major: get somebody to play different chords and you try to tell which chords. The bass note is key. Easier to use numberals (ie I, ii, iii etc rather than C, Dm, Em).

After you get the hang of it, you'll proceed to inversions (ie the 3rd or 5th note being at the bass instead of the root). After that, go for 7ths (dominant, major and minor 7ths).

You just need to keep practicing. With your perfect pitch, it should be very easy.

 

[hyperous]

yup im usually able to hear the simple ones, but when it comes to like Db chords, I really can't catch anything.

thanks for the input guys!

 

[theunknown]

hahah for me, i hear then i wack! most of the time right. hehe lucky me

 

[empihsrow]

Figure out the chords by hearing the different intervals. Is the note above the root a perfect fifth or is it a perfect fourth? If you can figure out the intervals, you definitely can tell what kind of chord it is.

Alternatively, listen for the chord progressions. Most songs use functional chord progression, so it isn't hard to miss. But you'll have to play around to get the exact correct chords. The chord progression might sound like C, Am, F, G but there might be the dreaded added ninths, different inversions or extra notes you might not be able to catch.