lots that have already been listed, but also:
'7:20 am Jullander Shere' by Cornershop
― Blazes Boyband (Pillbox), Wednesday, 19 January 2011 06:10 (thirteen years ago) link
I was listening to the Prince vocals version of "Love thy will be done" and it suddenly appeared to me that it's a one chord song since the bass plays the same note through the whole song ! of course, the synth plays other notes but still (It's a bit like "tomorrow never knows" which has the bass playing one chord and some noises playing other notes, I guess...)
I'd forgotten what a great song it is anyway...
― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 14:52 (eleven years ago) link
Best one-chord song round my house right now is "Sabotage"
― poxen, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 15:57 (eleven years ago) link
I'd say the Adverts' "One Chord Wonders," but it probably has more than one.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 16:08 (eleven years ago) link
Best concert promo poster ever, for a tour featuring The Adverts and The Damned: "The Adverts know one chord, the Damned know three. See all four at...."
Several mentions of Nilsson's "Coconut", but how about "Jump Into the Fire"? Those should get bonus points for being consecutive hit singles.
― Lee593 (Lee626), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 19:52 (eleven years ago) link
Jump Into the Fire has more than one chord. I believe two or maybe three, in fact.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 19:55 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1rp8lJFwv8
― fishermen are coveted by whores & stoners (Pillbox), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:01 (eleven years ago) link
Jennifer Gentle "I do dream you"
― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:04 (eleven years ago) link
surfin bird for a good minute. and it is a very good minute.
― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:11 (eleven years ago) link
Prolly mentioned upthread, but EC tried this once or twice, with "Uncomplicated" and a couple of others from that era.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 22:00 (eleven years ago) link
There are two chords built into the guitar riff, but that falls short of an actual chord change imo.
― Lee593 (Lee626), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 22:05 (eleven years ago) link
haw, this thread is pretty funny.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 22:14 (eleven years ago) link
Trying very hard not to mark snarky comments.
― Chewshabadoo, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 22:23 (eleven years ago) link
I'd like to note that "Frankie Teardrop" has only one note, not really a chord, BUT happily "Ghost Rider" has only one chord and it is also a song of high quality
― poxen, Thursday, 10 May 2012 00:14 (eleven years ago) link
Just read through this thread. I would also say that 'Tomorrow Never Knows' is a two-chord song, even though it apparently written as a one-chord song.
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Thursday, 10 May 2012 00:40 (eleven years ago) link
lol, came here to mention "ghost rider". amazed it hasn't come up prior.
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Thursday, 10 May 2012 00:42 (eleven years ago) link
Is 'one note samba' actually one chord? I can tell it revolves for the most time in the key of Bb major but I can hear B and Db on the bridge.
― Moka, Thursday, 10 May 2012 01:01 (eleven years ago) link
what do you think? bossanova is really tricky in that regard but i'd say there are several chord changes all over the tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMQNMRJn-Eo
― cock chirea, Thursday, 10 May 2012 02:03 (eleven years ago) link
joao gilberto's undiu is technically a one chord song, tho there are several transitional chords in there.
― cock chirea, Thursday, 10 May 2012 02:05 (eleven years ago) link
pink - get the party started
― cock chirea, Thursday, 10 May 2012 02:06 (eleven years ago) link
Fleetwood Mac - World Turning
― Johnny Hotcox, Thursday, 10 May 2012 03:14 (eleven years ago) link
@ cock chirea, I heard four chords in the first four seconds
― poxen, Thursday, 10 May 2012 06:20 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, it has loads...
I think it's a reference to the "F" chord shape, slide up and down the neck of the guitar to perform all the major chords ...
― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2012 08:36 (eleven years ago) link
Not a one chord song as such (therefore, by rights, I should be berating myself as vehemently as I was berating others upthread) but "Me About You" by the Turtles has straight-down-the-middle-100%-no-messin' one note bassline, which is admirable to me as it's not some arty wankfest but a pop song
― Charles Kennedy Jumped Up, He Called 'Oh No'. (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 May 2012 11:07 (eleven years ago) link
OK, how about "I'm Chief Kamanawanamaka (We're the Royal Macadamia nuts)" by the same group?
― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2012 11:10 (eleven years ago) link
I'm ashamed to admit I don't have that album!
― Charles Kennedy Jumped Up, He Called 'Oh No'. (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 May 2012 11:11 (eleven years ago) link
It's difficult to get on CD
Unless you get a really good clean original and write it to CD
and make a nice label and envelope printed with the photo you took of it, and so on.
I have it right here..
― Mark G, Thursday, 10 May 2012 11:15 (eleven years ago) link
"heart and soul" by joy division could be a perfect one chord song just excluding those 'fake' chords from barney that add some color post verses (there are no key changes anyway so there you have it)
― cock chirea, Thursday, 10 May 2012 11:47 (eleven years ago) link
"Born in the USA" comes close...
Saw a few suggestions of "Exodus" by Bob Marley, "Run Through the Jungle" by CCR, "No Diggity," "Forever In My Life" by Prince ...
Keith Urban has a song called "One Chord Song." What is "Showbiz Kids" by Steely Dan? I guess a lot of these songs can be played with one chord on guitar, though the recordings may not necessarily stick there.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 10 May 2012 11:52 (eleven years ago) link
love thy will be done IS NOT a one chord song, try humming the vocal melody and you will realise there are at least 2 or 3 chord changes during the verses
― cock chirea, Thursday, 10 May 2012 12:07 (eleven years ago) link
raga bihag. padma talwalkar & buddies do a good version.
― iglu ferrignu, Thursday, 10 May 2012 12:33 (eleven years ago) link
I'd just like to say that it's _my favourite thing ever_ when there is a triad or an open 5th that drones on for the song's entirety... chord changes, bass movement may happen, but that chord stays on, regardless. "2nd Thought" and "Of all the things we've made" by OMD are key examples
― poxen, Thursday, 10 May 2012 12:43 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, 'Of All The Things We've Made' is great. Love the way the bassline moves around while the guitars stay on the one chord throughout.
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Thursday, 10 May 2012 14:23 (eleven years ago) link
drunks with guns - hell house, iirc?
― arby's, Thursday, 10 May 2012 14:35 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, that's what I always thought but listening to it recently, I realized the bass stays on the one note the whole time. of course there are some other notes played by the synth and I agree that it feels like there are more chords though.
― AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 10 May 2012 16:49 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVoMrAtrj00
― caro's johnson (Eazy), Friday, 11 May 2012 05:29 (eleven years ago) link
Bo Diddley wrote sarky songs to Chubby Checker? Oh hang on...
― Mark G, Friday, 11 May 2012 06:05 (eleven years ago) link
eheh, listening to "Love Thy Will Be Done" on the Prince Originals comp made me think of this thread... only to find out I had already written the EXACT same thing I was planning to post !Ageing memory...Regarding "Tomorrow Never Knows" I think I remember McCartney actually saying in the Anthology or something that Lennon was just strumming the C chord throughout the song and how unusual and new it was for them.
― AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 28 June 2019 10:00 (four years ago) link
Sheets of Easter, of course
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 28 June 2019 10:18 (four years ago) link