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Hey, Ive started doing a duo gig and am doing some country songs. And Im kinda digging the story telling aspect of country music. Ive got lyrics that fit this sort of thing and might try to shop a few songs.

What Im looking for is some place to look up standard country song chord progressions. Im am well versed in rock progressions and this serves me well but I would like to learn a little more.

My monday night gig we cover all sorts of music, rock, country, swing and even some big band styled music, so Im getting an education in a live setting. Beats the heck out of woodshedding for 6 monthes to a year learning specific songs. I figure I just need a few basic structures to get me jump started.

I will add that I would encourage anyone on here that wants to improve their playing skills to get involved with some sort of open mic deal. From a songwriter standpoint you can try out ideas and find out if your songs connect with people. My deal I dont know half the songs that we are playing but Im a good enough hack to cover it pretty well. The other night a guy was in there and asked how long Dorothy and I had been playing together, when I told him that this was the first actual playing gig we had done it kinda freaked him out, even more so when I told him I didnt really know the songs. He said it sounded like we had been playing together for years. So that made me feel good. In my band we are pretty tight and know where we are going all the time, in this I am truelly winging it.

Tonight practice w my band and then a pretty big party gig sat night so Im going to have to shift gears a little bit over the next few days. Gotta get back into the rock mode.

Thanks for any info anyone passes on, and get out there and get busy. We are playing in a little resort community and Ive found out there are 10 places within a few mile of each other that have live music at any given time. Turn some stones over and find a place to hone your craft. Just do it!

JW ...

I'd have to say there are no specific chord progressions to country that I know and I've played quite abit of it in my day. In new counrty the intervals might be somewhat different on some songs, but alot of them are much the same as rock I-IV-V or some variation of that. I find the new stuff can sound like rock or funk or country depending on the groove and instrumentation.

A couple of chord progression rules:
In a major key the "natural qualities" of the chords are:
1 is the root chord / 2 second chord interval ... ect

1 - Major, 2 - Minor, 3 - Minor, 4 - Major, 5 - Major, 6 - Minor, 7 Minor Diminished

Sorry not much help to you ... keep your ears open, listen how how far the next interval moves and in which direction, heads up for cues and have fun. I agree with you winging it improves your ear and your playing, plus can be alot of fun ... if you don't have any train wreaks ...

Thanks Prevost, I know youve done a lot of what Im talking about. Yea I guess Ive noticed that the 3 and 4 are always minors. In rock or at least the stuff Ive always done you dont use 3rds and 4ths much. Most of the modern country is just 70s rock to my ears. Thanks for the scale chart, I havent taken any theory in so long that I forget the rules, but when I play I nail it.

So far no Train Wrecks, but it is interesting. I feel Im just about to the point that I can walk in and play with anyone on anything, other than jazz, Im still not comfortable there.

My goal in my musical journey is basically to play anything that I want to play.

Have a Great Day

JW wrote: My goal in my musical journey is basically to play anything that I want to play.

That should be universal John. Very succently worded.

George I dont think you should be limited to one musical genre, I guess Im getting older.

I was talking with someone over the weekend and they were really quizzing me about playing guitar, particularly leads. I said leads are the easiest for me. A few years back a person much wiser than me said Look the reality is there are 12 notes. Out of the 12, 9 of the notes are basically in key. So you have a 75% chance of being in key no matter where you put your fingers. The other key is to be able to hear when you are out, heck being in key is only a fret away. Ive developed my ear to the point I can bend into key when Im out.

Like I said my goal is to be able to play anything I want. Doesnt matter what genre. Doesnt matter if I like the genre or not, just to be able to participate. To many of us get hung up on playing this song or that song, when we should be concerned about mastering just flat out playing. Hell Ive forgotten more songs than most people learn in a lifetime, but if I can remember the basic progression then Im good to go.

Shut Up And Play Guitar!

I am with you John, well except ifn I dont like it I aint gonna play it.
I dont have to eat my brussel sprouts anymore so I wont.
I would love to be able to walk into someplace you or Bob or any number of these guys are playing and fit in while I sit in .
I continue to practice and learn, but I have little confidence outside my box. For now.

JW - the song I just learned had the following

G Cadd9 Em D B7 & F#m, then it changed to the key of A

not necessarilly in that order...

Some of the old country stuff is uninteresting 3 chord stuff, but much of it will surprize you with its complexity. Some of the Patsy Cline stuff is downright jazzy.

I throw in a lot of add9's, cuz it's a voicing that often works in country/folky songs. Avoid power chords, as in country, the twang of the highs is more often helpful.

As far as "standard" chord structures, that concept no longer applies. You can still play a lot of 12-bar blues sorta things & call it country, but even that is becoming passe, from what I'm seeing these days.

Many standards are in E, G, & A, the "ppl's keys," but of course that depends upon your singer's needs when you play them.

Still, the melody should be kept simple, accessible to the common man's mind, while the lyric should have lots of catch phrases to make the song easilly recognizeable & memorable. That in itself is really a challenge.

I'm sure I haven't helped you much, but it ain't for lack of trying...(there's a good country line! LOL)

Something else to maybe practice is substitutions chord and passing cord that you hear a lot in jazz and some of the more complex old country, like Patsy Cline stuff ... Crazy is a Willie Nelson song for those that don't know.

George I dont think you should be limited to one musical genre, I guess Im getting older.

You're right .. JW ... there so much to learn from each genre and make them work in another genre ... and yes I think it has something to do with age