Great one-chord songs?

[Mixedup]

Is anyone else fascinated by great songs that use the fewest chords possible?

I've always love the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want', for example, and that's really simple.

But what about songs that use only a single chord. Can they really work? There are plenty of examples of one-chord songs but most are awful (think Harry Nilson's 'Coconut'), or rely on the novelty of the production techniques to make them work (Beatles, 'Tomorrow Never Knows').

Personally, I think Bob Marley's 'Get Up, Stand Up' works really well; I love that track.

So... what others do people here appreciate and why?

[Drew Stephenson]

If I recall rightly Stereo MCs' Connected was pretty much a one chord song wasn't it?

[Wonks]

Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning" is one riff all the way through, as is George Thorogood's "Bad to The Bone".

[Wonks]

Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" sounds like a single chord song to me.

[Mixedup]

Yeah, there are loads of them. But do you like those you mentioned and if so what is it about them that you like?

[Drew Stephenson]

Well, actually I find them all a bit dull after about 90 sec - 2 mins.

Well, all the ones listed in this thread - I'm not writing the whole canon off!

[Sam Inglis]

Pablo Picasso, by The Modern Lovers. The best four minutes of E minor ever.

[alexis]

Whole Lotta Love.

(Ignore that 3 seconds

[Wonks]

I do really like the tracks I mentioned, plus Tomorrow Never Knows, except for the George Thorogood one, where I really want a chord change by about halfway through.

[alexis]

Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" sounds like a single chord song to me.

Great one! So good I never realized it was monochordal!

[Wonks]

It's only when you've played it on guitar in a covers band that you realise that you just go 'chink' on the same chord al the way through.

[Exalted Wombat]

Some sources consider there are in fact TWO chords. Cm and Cm7. A bit like "We play Country AND Western"

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/a/aretha_franklin/chain_of_...

https://youtu.be/vS-zEH8YmiM

[The Bunk]

There's a great one on John Fogerty's first (eponymous) solo album called "The Wall". Really does chug along and never makes me feel like it needs a change. Highly recommended (as is the whole album).
Bruce Springsteen's "Seeds" which I've only ever heard on a live album/DVD. The guitar riff kind of involves some implied/different chords but the root's E all the way through.

Isn't Placebo's "Pure Morning" a one-chorder?

[petev3.1]

Would Cliff Richard's 'Move It' count?

[Sam Inglis]

I have always loved Donovan's 'There Is A Mountain', but he ruins it by introducing a second chord in the middle eight.

[The Korff]

Isn't Placebo's "Pure Morning" a one-chorder?

Now that you mention it, yes, I think it is!

There's a Monster Magnet song, called 'Tab', that is one chord for the first 20 minutes or so (it goes up to the fourth after that for a few minutes, but then back to the original chord again for the last 10 or so).

[Dude16]

How about these oldies?

1. "Jump Into the Fire" Harry Nillson (Nillson Schmillson)
2. "Electric Avenue" Eddie Grant
3. "When Doves Cry" Prince

I love 'em all. Very creative (yet different) ways to maintain interest over a "droning" harmony.

[Dude16]

Sorry! It's Harry Nilsson - and "Nilsson Schmilsson"!

[Aled Hughes]

Bo Diddley's 'Who Do You Love'

[InactiveX]

Well, actually I find them all a bit dull after about 90 sec - 2 mins.

Try "Spoonful" by Cream.

[Drew Stephenson]

yeah. I managed about 2 minutes of that

[TheReson8or]

Most Krautrock, Bo Diddley, Leadbelly, loads of dance music..and many things written by me! The skill is in the lyrics and or the arrangement. Dave

[Drew Stephenson]

Most Krautrock, Bo Diddley, Leadbelly, loads of dance music..and many things written by me! The skill is in the lyrics and or the arrangement. Dave

Actually I think The Animals' The Story of Bo Diddley is a one chorder.

[CS70]

Gents, this discussion was inspiring and I now just made my first one-chord song!

[Drew Stephenson]

Gents, this discussion was inspiring and I now just made my first one-chord song!

I was about to say that I wouldn't know where to start, but actually I think I might have already written one, this one.
Apologies for the general quality - my phone mic doesn't stand much of a chance with a DB and it was only recorded as a mental note.