What 680,000 Songs Teach Us About Chord Progressions

Analysis of 680,000 Chord Progressions: Music, Data, and Simplicity

An examination of the chords underlying popular songs provides insights into music trends. Chris Dalla Riva’s study of 680,000 songs, featured on Can’t Get Much Higher, reveals changes in musical composition and their implications for popular music's evolution.

Key Findings:

Major Chords Prevalent: G major and C major are the most frequently used chords, making up nearly a quarter of all chords in the dataset. These chords are commonly found in genres such as country and pop.

Genre Differences: Country music predominantly uses major chords (G, C, D, A, F), which together constitute 61% of all country chords. Jazz, in contrast, utilizes a wider range of chords, with these same chords comprising only 39%.

Chord Complexity by Genre: Jazz is notable for its frequent use of 7th chords, which appear 2.5 to 13 times more often in jazz compared to other genres. Punk heavily employs power chords, while genres like rap rarely feature suspended, diminished, or augmented chords.

Trends Over Time: The use of 7th chords has significantly decreased since the 1940s, from 27.7% to 8.25% today, indicating a decline in jazz's influence and a shift toward simpler chord structures. Minor triads have become more prevalent in recent decades.

Change in Song Complexity: The unique chord rate—a measure of the variety of chords in a song—has declined from 13% in the 1930s to 8% today. This suggests modern songs have more repetitive chord progressions, although melody, lyrics, and rhythm remain important elements of musical creativity.

Recommendations for Songwriters and Music Enthusiasts:

Experimenting with different chord types, such as 7th chords or uncommon progressions, can add depth and originality.

For learners, mastering major chords provides a strong foundation, while exploring jazz or punk can expand musical knowledge.

Analyzing music should consider chords as just one aspect—melodies, lyrics, and performance also contribute to a song's quality.

Conclusion: While the structural simplicity of music may be increasing, creative expression continues to thrive. Using G or C major chords connects musicians to a long-standing tradition, yet innovation remains possible.

MusicTheory #Songwriting #ChordProgressions #MusicData #Jazz #Punk #PopMusic #Creativity

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