Two chord songs?

[Charlie Bernstein]

My favorite two chord song is probably “Honky Tonkin’” by Hank Williams.

Shoot, meant to mention that. Thanks for the save!

[Charlie Bernstein]

Great two chord simple song I teach budding guitar players-- "Tom Dooley". Literally two chords.

=O.

What's a song that's figuratively two chords?

(I hope your students aren't literally budding!)

[Mandolin Cafe]

The Native Ground Books & Music title Easy Two-Chord Songs for Mandolin mentioned above is now available from the publisher and amazon.com.

[Bren]

Thanks, I love 2-chord songs.

In addition to those mentioned, I like rock'n'roll 2-chorders "Memphis, Tennessee" (Chuck Berry) and "Dream Baby" (Roy Orbison), both of which work fine on mandolin.

However, call me mad, you can even call me jazz, I don't mind - but I use three chords for Cripple Creek.

[Roger Moss]

I don't know if anybody mentioned this one already, but how about "Copperhead Road"?

[yankees1]

The Native Ground Books & Music title Easy Two-Chord Songs for Mandolin mentioned above is now available from the publisher and amazon.com.

I think the author may offer two chord songs for guitar also but not sure !

[mbruno]

Little Liza Jane - I and V
Rye Whiskey - I and V
Jambalaya - I and V
Ruben's Train - I and V (though you could just sit on the I really)

[DHopkins]

I was going through this thread with the plethora of songs and every-once-in-a-while, I would think, "That can't be just two chords," so I picked up the old Breedlove and tried 'em. I'll be danged. They are two chord songs. Who knew?

[mbruno]

Don't ya hear Jerusalem moan is another goodie - though that's a 1 chord song (the version on Nitty Gritty Dirt band Vol 2 is just a B chord with the melody). It's more a vocal tune - but Nitty Gritty had a good instrumental part too.

[David L]

I think the author may offer two chord songs for guitar also but not sure !

I've never really understood the need for songbooks for a specific instrument, except for the occasional special riff for a certain instrument. Aren't songs for ANY instrument? All you need are the chords and sometimes a melody or lick. You figure it out on whatever instruments you like.

[Charlie Bernstein]

One more: You Never Can Tell

[Bob Visentin]

We play Fever with 2 chords (Am E). You can use more but this works.

[Denny Gies]

I believe Ashes of Love is a 3 chord song. Two other 2 chorders are Who's That Knocking On My Door and Last Night I Dreamed of Lovin' You.....with the caveat that there is a 7th inserted so I call it a 2 1/2 chord song.

[David L]

"Feelin' Alright"

[MandoNina]

As the original poster mentioned a while back, by the time she's learned all of the suggested songs she's definitely playing at least 3 chord songs, but what the heck...

Born In The USA by Springsteen has two chords (B & E, and a little lick) and there's at least a couple of Beatles songs that can be played in two chords (Eleanor Rigby and Paperback Writer)

[MandoNina]

Oh and I just remembered... Get Up Stand Up by Bob Marley is a ONE CHORD SONG! Bm all day long

[bigskygirl]

Katy Daley

[Simon DS]

You could teach her just the one Am shape (maybe Em too), you can make loads of part chords with Am, just move it around and play a zillion songs in key of C:

C: 3320xx I
Dm: xx776x II
Em: xx998x III
F: x332xx IV
G: x5540x or 32000x V
Am: xx221x or (different, Em shape) x775xx VI
Bdim: forget it

Main thing is how they’re related on fretboard, physically left to right for Dm to Em, and up and down for V and IV . Might be a lot to begin with but like this she makes that song hers, even if it has 4-5 chords...
It’s late, hopefully no typos. Good luck!

[Bob Visentin]

Season of the Witch -Donavan