Many pop songs stick with the standard triads
built from the degress of the scale.
One of the most common exceptions to this is to use a major chord on the 2nd degree - where usually there would be a minor.
It gives the music a sense of forward momentum seen clearly in Ben Folds excellent Rockin' the Suburbs
Here the 2nd degree D minor triad becomes a D major:
Guitarists may wonder how to do the funky intro to this piece. It's done by
lifting the left hand fingers off and on the fingerboard to change
the sound.
The picture shown above shows all 16 beats in the bar. Let's look at just the first 4 beats.
The right hand strums the strings on beats 1, 3 and 4. On beat 1, the left hand fingers are placed fully on the fingerboard
as usual (this is symbolized by the note heads). On beats 3 and 4 the left hand fingers lift off the fingerboard but still touching the strings. The
effect is to deaden the strings when strummed (this is symbolized by a stick with no note head).
The arrows show what the right hand does. In fact in simply moves up and down throughout the whole bar, as shown in the bottom line
of arrows. The trick is to only strum the strings on the appropriate beats (beats 1,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,12,13,15 and 16).
The hardest of these is beats 9 and 10, where the emphasis is on the off-beat, with the up stroke.
Try practicing up to speed though - I for one find this easier to do fast than slow!
Lyrics
Let me tell y’all what it’s like
Being male, middle class and white
It’s a bitch, if you don’t believe
Listen up ...
The Luckiest (Piano/Vocal/Guitar). By Ben Folds. By Ben Folds. For Guitar; Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Guitar. Artist/Personality; Piano/Vocal/Chords; Sheet; Solo. Original Sheet Music Edition. Pop; Wedding. 6 pages. Published by Alfred Music Pub
Ben Folds -- Rockin' the Suburbs (Piano/Vocal Transcriptions). For Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano/Vocal Transcriptions. Artist/Personality; Book; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. Pop/Rock. 88 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing
Ben Folds -- Lonely Avenue (Piano/Vocal Transcriptions). For Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano/Vocal. Artist/Personality; Book; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. Pop/Rock. 104 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing
Whatever And Ever Amen "By Ben Folds Five. For voice, guitar, keyboard, bass and drum set. Hal Leonard Transcribed Scores. Alternative Rock and Pop Rock. Difficulty: medium. Complete score songbook. Vocal melody, lyrics, guitar tablature, piano accompaniment, bass tablature, dr
Ben Folds Presents University A Cappella! "(SATB, a cappella). Choir Secular. SATB choir. Artist/Personality; Book; Choral Collection. 320 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing"
Ben Folds Five And Selections From Naked Baby Photos "By Ben Folds Five. For voice, guitar, keyboard, bass and drum set. Hal Leonard Transcribed Scores. Alternative Rock and Pop Rock. Difficulty: medium to medium-difficult. Complete score songbook. Vocal melody, lyrics, guitar tablature, piano accompaniment
Ben Folds -- Supersunnyspeedgraphic (Piano Transcriptions/Vocal). For Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano Transcriptions/Vocal. Artist/Personality; Book; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. Pop/Rock. 136 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing
Keyboard Signature Licks "By Ben Folds Five. For keyboard. Signature Licks Keyboard. Alternative Rock and Pop Rock. Difficulty: medium. Book and CD package. Standard notation, vocal melody, chord names, instructional text and introductory text. 72 pages. Published by Hal Leonard"
Brick "By Ben Folds and Ben Folds Five. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Pop; Rock. 6 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
Philosophy "By Ben Folds and Ben Folds Five. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Rock. 10 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
Brick "By Ben Folds and Ben Folds Five. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Pop; Rock. PV. 6 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
Brick "By Ben Folds and Ben Folds Five. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Alternative; Pop; Rock. 6 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
