Playing a 4th over a root, why does this work?

[iconic]

Many thanks excellent explanation....wouldn't of thought such a simple song could seem so complex?

was it macca whom said something about the power of band is in the bass?

Edited December 31, 2013 by iconic

[Romberg Bevel]

The bass doesn't sometimes play the Eb - it's deliberate. The progression in the chorus is different than the verse. There's nothing complex at all about this song! It's quite basic songwriting. Don't get me wrong, I like what they've done with it, but it's not that unusual.

[XB26354]

Yes, the confusion here is because the chords on the first post are wrong. The song would be written in Cm as this is the first chord - although no chordal instrument is playing an Eb so it is implied rather than played.

Verse
C Bb Ab Bb

Pre chorus
Ab (2 bars) Gsus4 G Fm Fm/Bb Gm Bb

Chorus
C Eb Ab Bb

Now there are more complex implied harmonies in the song - the Ab in the chorus is clearly a Lydian sound (2nd vocal melody note is D) but that's essentially it. However, the verse and chorus harmony is the same. Only the bass plays an Eb instead of a Bb, which reharmonises it to an Eb chord. It works just as well with a Bb in the bass but adds a bit of colour to the track. A similar thing happens on chord 5 of the Pre chorus. The kbd is playing an Fm but the bass hits a Bb. This is a fourth over the root, but on a minor chord, which is usually less dissonant.

[iconic]

Whats a kbd?

[iconic]

Are those chords you have written shorthand and just roots... or i'm even more puzzled than i was before if the first posts chords are incorrect?

Many thanks for your patience on this one!

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='iconic' timestamp='1388612818' post='2324115']
Whats a kbd?
[/quote]
Keyboard?

[iconic]

Ahh of course....theres me thinking it was a strange chord i'd never come across?!?

[XB26354]

They're the chords. The chords you mentioned on the first post were wrong. Most of the chords in this song are just triads, e.g. Cm or Bb. I can see why the verse/chorus chords might have been written as C5, Bb5, Ab5 etc. (note that as the key is C minor, whose key signature uses Bb, Eb and Ab, you wouldn't normally write A# or G#), because the keyboard and guitar aren't clearly playing a major or minor 3rd over most of those chords. However, the harmony is there - you can hear it in the bass and backing vocals. That's why it is incorrect to write the chords using the "x5" symbol - which as has been explained elsewhere is a power chord (root and perfect 5th) with no discernible major or minor sound.

[iconic]

Cheers.