# Famous Single Chords in Rock? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107 "2019-06-26T17:05:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/41 "2019-06-27T16:06:30Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is there a reason you spelled it as “Ab”? In an E chord, that’d be called a G#. I just called it what Andy called it. And he knows more about music than I do. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/42 "2019-06-27T16:14:08Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I just called it what Andy called it. And he knows more about music than I do. Oh, those whacky guitarists! 🙂 In that context, it’s definitely a G#. It’d be kind of like calling the E in a C-chord an “F-flat.” They are enharmonic (represent the same key on a piano or string/fret on a guitar), though. Maybe way down low he’s just used to thinking of it as an A-flat for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/43 "2019-06-27T17:41:22Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Um, that’s not a chord. It’s a chord. I think it’s a Bm. Sounds like one guitar is playing the chord and another is playing an F# pedal tone on top of the whole progression. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/44 "2019-06-27T17:58:11Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > It’s a chord. I think it’s a Bm. Sounds like one guitar is playing the chord and another is playing an F# pedal tone on top of the whole progression. I haven’t checked with any instrument, but if you’re talking about the acoustic guitar, it sounds like a sus4 going into a major chord. I don’t hear minor there. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/45 "2019-06-27T18:08:27Z")
ETA: And as far as the electric guitar over it, I just hear single notes, sliding up A to B (maybe played as an octave on the low E and D strings–I can’t quite tell if it’s an octave or not, but it’s the same note.) And the backing chord progression is Dsus4 to D major, now that I could check with an instrument for pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/46 "2019-06-27T19:31:28Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > . > How should we classify the opening chord to the Kink’s [Do It Again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqil8_JFCVU), then? I was going to mention _Do It Again_. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/47 "2019-06-27T20:17:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > ETA: And as far as the electric guitar over it, I just hear single notes, sliding up A to B (maybe played as an octave on the low E and D strings–I can’t quite tell if it’s an octave or not, but it’s the same note.) That’s what I (and I think the poster – note the timings posted coincide with the electric slide) was referring to. And yeah, might be an octave, can’t say. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/48 "2019-06-27T20:28:48Z")
Four chords in a row, but each is as long as the chord at the beginning of _A Hard Day’s Night_: the opening of [White Room, by Cream.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR90gQ-SIaY) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/49 "2019-06-27T21:12:30Z")
“Welcome to the Machine” has some grungy sound effects of no musical consequence but kicks in with a couple of gently strummed chords, [thus.](https://youtu.be/lt-udg9zQSE?t=41) Instantly recognisable. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/50 "2019-06-27T21:49:02Z")
My first thought was the opening to [The Kids Are Alright](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETvVH2JAxrA). ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/51 "2019-06-27T22:04:02Z")
Might be a bit too obscure, but The opening chord for JailBreak (Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak) is immediately recognizable to me. –G! ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/52 "2019-06-27T23:04:29Z")
Fight for Your Right to Party is the first opening cord I thought of. You know what song it is before anything else happens. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/53 "2019-06-28T00:32:54Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > That’s what I (and I think the poster – note the timings posted coincide with the electric slide) was referring to. And yeah, might be an octave, can’t say. Sorry, I was listening to the \*first \*chord, then I went back and saw the post was at specific times. Yes, sounds like an octave to me. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/54 "2019-06-28T00:42:40Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > Fight for Your Right to Party is the first opening cord I thought of. You know what song it is before anything else happens. I agree with this. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/55 "2019-06-28T01:12:34Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > Fight for Your Right to Party is the first opening cord I thought of. You know what song it is before anything else happens. I think that chord has a lot of Rock And Roll High School in it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/56 "2019-06-28T03:10:47Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Sorry, I was listening to the \*first \*chord, then I went back and saw the post was at specific times. Yes, sounds like an octave to me. And to my mind an octave isn’t a chord. It’s a single note with an overtone or something. ETA: or a 12th chord? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/57 "2019-06-28T03:13:07Z")
My 2 cents on THE CHORD. 1. There are only two THE CHORDS. One is sort of described by Leonard Cohen and the other started off a Beatles song. 2. I think everyone agrees George played an Fadd9 on that Rick 12. Analysts say John played a Dsus4. But there’s a clip on YouTube of them performing the song in concert (NOT lip-syncing) and John plays an Fadd7. 3. Somewhere I read there was an acoustic guitar in the studio, unpicked, fretted, or strummed, but it just picked up some vibrations. I can see an A, D, and G getting into some sympathetic vibes. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107/58 "2019-06-28T10:32:42Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > And to my mind an octave isn’t a chord. It’s a single note with an overtone or something. ETA: or a 12th chord? 😕 I agree; an octave isn’t a chord, it’s a dyad and it doesn’t even imply a chord. There is no such thing as a 12th chord. The chord extensions are 7, 9, 11, and 13. The 12th would be enharmonic to the 5th, which is already in a major or minor chord so nobody ever says that (also 8th=tonic, 10th=3rd so those aren’t used either). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-single-chords-in-rock/836107.md?page=2)