Contra Chord Simplification

April 20th, 2024
contra, music
Tomorrow, Lily and I will be leading a Kids Contra Jam at NEFFA (2pm in the Sudbury room!). We'll be playing off of Lily's tune list, but someone was asking about chords. I decided to have a go at writing out the simplest acceptable chords for each of the tunes we're planning. Each letter represents two downbeats:

All the Rage

A: 𝄆 E E A B 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 A A B B 𝄇 x4

Lisnagun

𝄆 G G C D 𝄇 x8

Devil's Dream

𝄆 D D A E 𝄇 x8

Reign of Love

A: 𝄆  Em Em C D 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆  Em Em C C
D  D  C C 𝄇

June Apple

A: 𝄆 A A G G
    A A G D 𝄇
B: 𝄆  A A G D 𝄇 x4

Dancing Bear

𝄆 Em Em C C
  D  D  B B 𝄇 x4
can play B7 for B if that's easier

The Wren

A: 𝄆 Em C D D 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 C  C D D 𝄇 x4

Haaplevese

A: 𝄆 D D G A 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 D G A A 𝄇 x4

Trip to Moscow

𝄆 Am Am C C
  G  G  D D 𝄇 x4

Road to Boston

A: 𝄆 D D G A 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 D D G G
D D A A 𝄇 x4

Coleman's March

A: 𝄆 D G D A
     D G A A 𝄇
B: 𝄆 D D D D
     G G A A 𝄇

Sandy Boys

A: 𝄆 A A A G 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 A A A A
     G G G G 𝄇

Angeline the Baker

𝄆 D D D G
  D D D A 𝄇 x4

Liza Jane

A: 𝄆 A A A D
     A A E A 𝄇
B: 𝄆 A A A D
     E E E A 𝄇

Mairi's Wedding

𝄆 G G C D 𝄇 x8

Cluck Old Hen

A: 𝄆 A A A G 𝄇 x8

Cripple Creek

A: 𝄆 A A D E 𝄇 x8

Bile 'Em Cabbage Down

𝄆 D G D A
  D G A A 𝄇

Four of these are just "𝄆 I I IV V 𝄇": a good first guess for a major tune!

I'll have these there in person as well on handouts.

Note that normally you'd be doing different chords each time through, and they'd been more complex (more).

Comment via: facebook, lesswrong, mastodon

Recent posts on blogs I like:

Facts I Learned From A City On Mars

Space bastardry!

via Thing of Things April 14, 2025

Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

When I thought about this question it was really hard to figure out because the way it's phrased it's essentially either a chicken just pops into existence, or an egg just pops into existence, without any parent animals involved. I thought about t…

via Lily Wise's Blog Posts April 13, 2025

Advice for time management as a manager

have accurate expectations of yourself • prioritize ruthlessly • unemploy your future self • a five-step “help, I’m overwhelmed” checklist • carve out focused time

via benkuhn.net April 1, 2025

more     (via openring)