Song Chord Patterns2

"You can play 50 + banjo tunes whether you know it or not!" By Phil Mathers

I have been looking at chord progressions because I have found that one thing that has helped me from time to time in jams (& in just picking out tunes from time to time) is realizing that some songs follow chord progressions that are the same (or very nearly the same) as other songs. A while back, I started grouping songs along the lines of those similarities and I have come up with what I call Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D and Two Chord. I am also adding a section entitled "Other" and listing some somgs with chord progressions that are not in the 5 Group patterns. This is what I have so far and I would like to present it as a "Work In Progress" that is subject to edit / adds / deletes and suggestions:

Group A with chord progressions: I IV I V I

How many songs from Group A can you strum (or vamp or do rolls) and sing while making correct chord changes? On how many of these songs can you pick out the melody notes (with correct timing)? Back to strumming - can you strum those songs from low neck (frets 1 - about 5), mid-neck (frets about 6 - 12 or so) and then one time throught the song high on the neck (about 12 through 23)? OK... can you strum the song (and sing) in 3 different keys low on the neck - for example, in the Key of G out of G position, Key of C out of C position then Key of D out of D Position? BTW - I think 'na na ....na na..' is not a bad lyric line for a lot of this stuff. One more review: Out of G Position, can you strum each song using only the F Shape, then strum the song using only the G Shape and finish by going through the song one time with just Barre chords?

Adding a few melody notes for the Key of G - BTW, these melody notes are just a few ideas to get started on - the REAL DEAL is to find the melody notes without looking at this stuff - with the right timing and chord changes and let the ears be the guide to getting it right....then add some rolls to the mix .... then add some slurs [slides, pulloffs, hammers, etc.] keeping the rhythm. Result: Good MELODY; good HARMONY (chords); good RHYTHM (timing).... = purdy good improvising + promotion from beginner to intermediate + contribute more to jams + have more fun.

1. Will The Circle Be Unbroken [D E g g b a g b ..... b a g a g E D...]
2. Do Lord [D D E g g...a b b b a g...]
3. Nine Lb Hammer [D D E g g...b b b g a g E...g E D...D D E g g...d d b g...b b a g E...g g g g g E D...D D E F# g]
4. I'll Fly Away
5. Worried Man Blues [D D D D E g a b b b a g...E E E E E g g g a g E D...D D D D E g a b b b a g...g g g a a a b b a a g]
6. When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder (Verse) (..Chorus is in Group B)
7. When You Go Walking
8. Take Me In Your Lifeboat
9. Uncloudy Day (Verse) (..Chorus is in Group B)
10. White House Blues
11. Swing Low Sweet Chariot
12. Mountain Dew [D D D E g g a g b...a g g a g g E D...D D D E g g a b b a g...g a b b a a g]
13. Roving Gambler (Traditionally two chord: I IV but often played as 3 chord: I IV I V I)
14. Sittin' On Top Of The World (Verse + Chorus = I IV I V I)
15. I Saw The Light
16. Long Journey Home ($2 Bill)
17. Don't This Road Look Rough & Rocky (Verse) (Chorus starts on IV)
18. Bury Me Beneath The Willow [b c b a g a g E...D g g b b c b a...b c b a g a g E...D g a g b a g]
19. Your Love Is Like A Flower
20. A Beautiful Life (Verse) (..Chorus starts I IV V I..)
21. You Can Have Her
22. Are You Washed In The Blood
23. You Go To Your Church & I'll Go To Mine
24. Lord, I'm Coming Home (3/4)
25. Daddy Sang Bass (Verse) (.. Ch. ENDS on I IV I IV I V I)
26. Paradise (3/4) [b d d d d d d d e d d b g...g b d d d b g a g a b....g g b d d d d d d e d d b g...g g b d d d b g a b a g]
27. Crying Holy
28. Children Go Where I Send You
29. Precious Memories (Verse) (..Chorus starts I IV I IV ..)
30. In The Pines (3/4) [b a g b b d e d c c d b...g g b d d e b a b a g...g b d e c d b d b a b a g]
31. Amazing Grace (3/4) (I IV I V I) (I IV I vi V I)
32. Angel Band (3/4) (Verse) (..Chorus starts V I V I)
33. My Cabin In Caroline (Verse) (..Chorus starts on IV)
34. Back To The Cross
35. Amanda (3/4)
36. What A Friend We Have In Jesus (Verse) (..Chorus starts on V) [Verse: d d e d b a g E...D g b g d b a...d d e d b a g E... D g b a g F# g] [Chorus: a b c c b a b d...e e d b c b a...d d e d b a g E...D g b a g F# g]
37. Leaning On The Everlasting Arms (Verse) (..Ch. notes ii on the word 'all')
38. I'll Never Shed Another Tear
39. Gold Watch and Chain (Song starts on IV)[g g g E E g E E E D...g g a b g F# E F# g...g g g E E g E E E D...g g a b g F# E F# g]
40. Molly and Tenbrooks (I IV I V I V I)
41. On and On
42. Big Ball In Boston [g g g d d c c c d....g g g d d b b b a g]
43. A Little At A Time (Verse) (..Chorus starts IV I V I ..)
44. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Verse) (..Bridge starts on IV)
45. Home Sweet Home (Verse) (..Chorus starts IV I V I ..)
46. Wreck Of The Old Ninety-Seven
47. Y'All Come (Verse) (..Chorus ENDS on I IV V I)
48. In The Gravel Yard
49. I've Waited As Long As I Can
50. Cripple Creek (Verse-'Part A')(Chorus-'Part B' is Two Chord: I V)
51. Banjo In The Hollow (Part A) (..Part B starts IV I IV I..)
52. Dooley
53. Rivers Of Texas (3/4)
54. Jesse James (Verse) (..Ch. starts on IV) [Verse: D g b b a g g E g g E D...b b b d b a...g g b b b a g D E E g E D...b b b b a a b a g] [Chorus: c c c c c g b b a g...g b b d b a...g g b b b a g g...g E g E D D...g b b a a b a g]
55. This Land Is Your Land (Song Starts on Chorus IV chord and verse starts on IV)
56. Green Green Grass Of Home
57. Pig In A Pen [g g b b g g D...g g a b c...e d b b g g D...D a a b a g]
58. Model Church
59. Highway Of Regret (Chorus) (..Verse starts I V I V IV..)
60. (I Hear A) Choo Choo Coming
61. All The Good Times Are Past And Gone (3/4) [b b b g D g E D...g g g g g a...b b b g D g E D...g g g g g g a b a g]
62. Carolina Mountain Home (Verse) (..Ch. starts on IV..)
63. I'm Moving On
64. Midnight Train
65. Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior
66. Power In The Blood
67. Dream Of A Miner's Child
68. Drinking From The Fountain
69. Soldier's Joy ('Part B') (...'Part A' is Two Chord: I V)
70. Paul and Silas
71. When You and I Were Young Maggie (Verse)(..Ch. starts IV I V ii V..)
72. Going To Georgia
73. When I Stop Dreaming (..Ch. & Verse have a I IV I V IV..)
74. Lost and I'll Never Find the Way
75. Are You Missing Me (Verse) (..Chorus is two chord: I V)
76. Before I Met You (3/4) (Chorus starts on IV)
77. Making Believe (Verse) (..Bridge starts I V I V..)
78. Rose Of My Heart (Verse) (..Chorus starts I IV V I)
79. Faded Love** [d d e d b a g E g a g...d d e d b c b a...d d e d b a g E g a g...g E D g a b a g]
80. Little Cabin Home On The Hill (Verse) (Chorus starts IV I V..)
81. I Cried Again (Verse) (Chorus starts on IV..)
82. Jingle Bells (Chorus) ..(Verse is in Group D) [Melody for Verse & Chorus posted below in Group D]
83. Let Her Go
84. Maple On The Hill
85. Over In The Gloryland
86. Turn Your Radio On
87. The Old Old House (3/4) (Chorus starts V IV V)
88. Hallelujah I'm Ready (Verse)
89. Somebody Touched Me
90. Memories Of Mother And Dad
91. I'm Waiting To Hear You Call Me Darlin
92. The Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake (3/4)(Verse)(Chorus is in Group B)
93. Darling Nellie Gray ** (Verse) (Chorus starts on IV)
94. Too Old To Die Young (Verse) (Chorus starts on IV)
95. Boil Them Cabbage Down
96. Little White Church (Chorus) (Verse starts I IV I ii V I)
97. Foggy Mountain Top
98. Keep On The Sunny Side (Verse: I IV I V I V I) (Chorus: I IV I V I IV I IV I V I)
99. Shall We Gather At The River (Chorus starts on IV) (Verse is two chord: I V) [Verse: b b b a b c d b...c c c d c b a d...b b b a b c d b...b b a a b c b a g] [Chorus: e e e f# G e d b...b c c c b c c a b d...e e e f# G e d b...b a a b c b a g]
100. Christmas Time's A Comin (Chorus: I IV I V I V I V I) (Verse is two chord: I V) [i.e.... this song is essentially a two chord song [I V] except for the second lyric line of the chorus: "Joy to all hear them singin" which is IV chord.]
101. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
102. Down Where The River Bends

** Faded Love (#79 above) has the same melody as the VERSE of the 1859 song Darling Nellie Gray (#93 above)

Group B with chord progressions: I V I IV I V I

How many songs from Group B can you strum (or vamp or do rolls) and sing while making correct chord changes? Can you pick out the melody notes on those songs (with correct timing)?

1. She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain [D E g g g g E D D E g...g a b b b b d b a g a...d c b b b b a g...g D E E E E a g...E E D D D D b a g a g]
2. Banks of the Ohio [g g a b g g a a...a b c c c d c b...b c d b b a g c...g g a b c b a g]
3. When The Saints Go Marching In [g b c d g b c d...g b c d b g b a...b a g g b d d d c...b c d b a a g]
4. Rolling In My Sweet Baby's Arms [g g g b b a g E D D...g g g b b g g...F# F# g g g b b b c c E E...E D D D b b a g]
5. Will You Be Loving Another Man
6. When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder (Chorus) (..Verse is in Group A)
7. Mama Don't 'Low
8. Old Time Religion [D D E g g g E D...D D g a a b a g...g g a b b b a g...E D g F# a g]
9. Uncloudy Day (Chorus) (..Verse is Group A)
10. Red River Valley [D g b b b b a b a g...D g b g b d c b a...d c b b a g a b d c...g E D a a b a a g]
11. Katy Kline (Cline)
12. New River Train [d d d d d e d b g...d d d d e d b a...b b a g b c c e...e e d d c b a g]
13. Green Pastures (3/4) [D g a g D a b a g g D...a b a g g D g b a g a a...b a g g D a b a g g D a...b a g g D g...a b a g g]
14. Why don't You Tell Me So (Verse) (..Chorus starts on IV)
15. Take This Hammer
16. Happy Birthday (3/4) [D D E D g F#...D D E D a g...D D d b g F# E...c c b g a g]
17. Will There Be Any Stars (Chorus)
18. Think Of What You've Done (Verse) (..Chorus starts on IV)
19. River Of Jordan (Chorus) (...Verse starts out I V I V.)
20. Trouble In Mind
21. How Mountain Girls Can Love (Ch. starts on IV) (Verse is 2 chord: I V)
22. Who Will Sing For Me (Chorus starts on V) (Verse in in Group C)
23. The Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake (3/4)(Chorus)(Verse is in Group A)
24. Born To Be With You (I V V7 I I7 IV I V I) [b b g a a...c c d b b...d d e c c...g g a b b...g a b a g g]
25. I Understand [Just How You Feel] (3/4) [D b a g...D g b a...a a c b...g b d c...c d c b...D g b a...D F# a g]
26. Freight Train (I V I iii7 IV I V I) [d b a g F# d c...e c a F# g d b...b c b a g a g...E E D b b a g]
27. Satan's Jewel Crown (3/4) (I V I IV I V I V I)
28. Please Search Your Heart (3/4) (Verse)(Chorus: I IV I V IV I V I V I IV I V I)

Group C chord progressions: I IV I IV I V I

How many songs from Group C can you strum (or vamp or do rolls) and sing while making correct chord changes? Can you pick out the melody notes on each of those songs (with correct timing)?

1. You Are My Sunshine [D g a b b...b a b g g...g a b c e e d c b...g a b c e e d c b g...g a b b a a a g]
2. Lonesome Road Blues
3. Roll On Buddy [g g b b b a g...c c d d b a g...c c c c d d d b b a g E...g b b a g b a g]
4. East Virginia Blues
5. Rawhide
6. Little Glass Of Wine
7. Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
8. I Am A Pilgrim (Chorus & Verse start on V) [D E g a a...b a g g g bflat bflat bflat a g g g g E g E...D D E g g d d d d c...g g b ~~B C C#~~ D b b g a g]
9. Who Will Sing For Me (Verse) (Chorus is in Group B)
10. The Lonesome River (Verse) (Chorus is 2 chord: I V)
11. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (I IV I IV I V I) (I V) x2 (I IV I IV I V I) [g g d d e e d...c c b b a a g...d d c c b b a....d d c c b b a...g g d d e e d...c c b b a a g]
12. The Alphabet Song (Same as Twinkle, Twinkle) [& Same melody]
13. Baa Baa Black Sheep (Same as Twinkle, Twinkle) [&Same melody]
14. The Old Rugged Cross (6/8) (Chorus starts on V) (Verse is in Group D)

Note re: #8. I Am A Pilgrim - the melody notes ~~B C C#~~ can not be played on banjo in this octave with standard tuning of the instrument.

Group D chord progressions: I IV V I

How many songs from Group D can you strum (or vamp or do rolls) and sing while making correct chord changes? Can you pick out the melody notes on each song?

1. Blue Ridge Cabin Home
2. If I Lose (Verse) (..Chorus starts I V I V...)
3. Walk Through This World With Me [b a b c b a...D a b g...b a b c d c...d a a b...b b c d e a...c c d a d b...b a b c b a...D a b g]
4. Man of Constant Sorrow *
5. (My) Little Home In Tennessee (Verse) (..Ch. starts V I ii[7] V)
6. We'll Meet Again Sweetheart
7. Is It Too Late Now
8. Give Me Forty Acres
9. I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap (Verse)(Ch. starts V I ii V)
10. Teardrops In My Eyes (Verse)
11. Great Speckled Bird [b c d b g b c b a E...d c a F# E E D b...b d b g b c b a E...c b a g E D b a g]
12. I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes [Same as Great Speckled Bird]
13. The Wild Side of Life [Same as Great Speckled Bird]
14. It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels [Same as Great Speckled Bird]
15. Footprints In The Snow (Verse)(..Chorus starts I V I IV .)
16. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
17. Wabash Cannonball [D D D D g g b d b b b g a g E...E E D D F# a b a F# F# F# F# E D D...D D D g g b d...b b g a g E...E D D F# a b a...a a F# D E F# g]
18. Come On Down To My World (Verse) (..Chorus: I IV V IV V I..)
19. Even Now
20. The Old Rugged Cross (6/8) (Verse)(Chorus starts V & is in Group C)
21. This Morning At Nine
22. Another Night
23. Alabama Bound
24. Storms Never Last
25. Life Of Sorrow *
26. Mr.Engineer (Song starts on IV)
27. I Still Miss Someone (Bridge: Starts on IV) (Verse: I IV V IV V I)
28. Jingle Bells (Verse) ..(Chorus is in Group A) [Verse: D b a g D...D D D b a g E...E c b a F#...d d c a b...D b a g D...D b a g E...E c b a d d d...d d e c b a g] [Chorus - (from Group A): b b b b b b b d g a b...c c c c c b b b b b...a a b a d...b b b b b b b d g a b...c c c c c b b b b d d c a g]
29. Shackles And Chains (3/4)
30. Fraulein [Verse: b c d e d g b...b a E g a E g...g E D g a d d e d...b c d e d g b...a E g a E g...D g a c b a g] [Chorus: d d b g d...e c g E D g...g E D g a b d e d...b c d e d g b...a E g a E g...D g a c b a g]
31. Battle Of New Orleans (Verse) (Chorus is two chord: I V)
32. Ocean Of Diamonds (Verse) (Chorus: I IV I V I IV V I)

*4 & 25 have the same melody (& the same theme)

Two Chord (I & V except as indicated)

How many songs from this Two Chord Group can you strum (or vamp or do rolls) and sing while making correct chord changes? Can you pick out the melody on each of those songs?

1. Oh, How I Love Jesus (6/8) [b b a b g g...g a a g a b d...b b a b g g ... g a b c b a g]
2. The Legend Of The Rebel Soldier (Ea. Verse 2 chord)
3. Palms of Victory
4. I'll Go Steppin Too
5. Little Birdie
6. Katy Daley [g g g g g g E D E g...g g g g a a a a F#... F# F# F# F# F# F# E D E F#...D D D D D g g b a g]
7. Somehow Tonight
8. Tom Dooley [D D D E g b b....D D D E g a...D D D E g a a...a a a g E g]
9. Skip To My Lou [b g b b b d...a F# a a a c...b g b b b d...a b c b a g g]
10. Little Bessie
11. My Home's Across The Blue Ridge Mountains [g b b b a g E D g...g a a a a g a b d...g b b b a g E D g...g g a a a a a b b a a g]
12. Rain and Snow(I vii)
13. Jambalaya
14. Hot Corn, Cold Corn
15. It's Just The Sun
16. Roving Gambler (Traditionally two chord: I IV but often played as 3 chord: I IV I V I)

"Other" - (a few others not fitting above Groups)

How many songs from this "Other" Group can you strum (or vamp or do rolls) and sing while making correct chord changes? Can you pick out the melody on each of these songs?

1. Wildwood Flower ..(I V I V I IV I V I) [b c d e G b c b a b a g...b c d e G b c b a b a g...d G B B A G d d e G e d...b c d e G b c b a b a g]
2. Careless Love........(I V I V I IV I V I) [b g F# D F# a g...b c d d e d a...b c d d e c g...g a b g F# D F# a g]
3. I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome (I vi ii V I) (Chorus and Verses start on vi)
4. Don't Let Your Deal Go Down...(I vi ii V I)
5. Salty Dog Blues........................(I vi ii V I) [b b b b b b b b c b b...a a a a a b a a a a...d d d c b b b a g g...b b b b c b b b...a a a a b a a...d d d c b b b a g]
6. Blackberry Blossom - (Part A: G D C G C G A D .. G D C G C G D G)x 2 (Part B: Em B7 Em C G D G)x 2
7. Dark Hollow (I V I IV I IV I V I)
8. Sanctuary (I V IV I V I) (I V IV I) [b a g g g g g b c d a...a b c g g a b b a...b a g g g b c d a...a b c g b a g...b a g g g g b c d a...a b c g b a g]
9. The Old Home Place (Verse: I iii IV I V I) (Chorus begins V I ii V...)
10. Love, Please Come Home (I vii IV I IV I V I)
11. Oh Susannah (Verse: I V I V I) (Chorus: IV I V I V I) [i.e..This song is essentially a two chord song [I V] except for the IV chord start of the chorus: "Oh Susannah"] [Verse: g a b d d e d b g a b b a g a...g a b d d e d b g a b b a a g] [Chorus: c c e e e d d b g a...g a b d d e d b g a b b a a g]
12. Goodnight, Irene (3/4) (I V I IV V I) [g a g F# E D...a b a g...g b b a g a g E...E D a b a g]
13. Edelweiss (3/4) (Verse: G D G C...G Em Am7 D7...G D G C...G D7 G) (Bridge: D G...C A7 D D7...G D G C...G D7 G)
14. Abilene (I iii IV I....ii V I IV I)
15. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (Verse: I V) (Chorus: I V I IV V I)
16. Kumbaya (I IV I V I......I IV I IV V I)

Green indicates recent updates or corrections to the lists. I have noticed there are different 'takes' on some songs. If you see an error in these lists or have suggestions please let me know and I will post acChordingly. THANKS!

Thanks to rstieg & Bob Young & RyanHerr & heavythumb & ronjo843 & lost pilgrim & Xray2 and others for contributions to these lists!

Phil
Katy, TX