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Lead Sheet Trouble

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I wrote this short hymn, found the chords, but now I'm having a bit of trouble since my melody line doesn't completely fit the chords I chose. 

Screenshot 2021-04-26 210908.jpg

Idk what you mean by "the melody doesn't fit the chords." I like these chords. Nothing seems out of place here. 

I think most chords are ok.

  • The only one I think it's clearly wrong is that G7sus2: it's a normal G7(plus a 9th in the melody that moves to a 8).
    • Gm7 could also work but I think G7 is more effective here.
  • That Dm7 would probably work better as D7 (other alternatives: D7/F# or F#dim7).
  • That Edim doesn't make much sense, I'd repeat here the previous F chord (only possibility if the following chord has the F# in the bass) or maybe an A7 or Am7b5. You could even put an Eb7.

Then, here are a few alternatives or optional additions, but nothing important:

  • "I've heard": F7
    • another alternative: Cm7 moving fast to F7
  • "Keep my mind..." Both chords without the /F
    • another alternative: put an Eb7 on "on His word".
  • "day by": Eb7(no3rd).

All the Eb7 chords are very spicy, maybe a bit too much depending on your style.

Cheers!

Edited by Snake_Cake
.

  • Author
20 hours ago, jejrekmek said:

Idk what you mean by "the melody doesn't fit the chords." I like these chords. Nothing seems out of place here. 

 

The melody note in some places does not belong in the chord there

11 minutes ago, GospelPiano12 said:

The melody note in some places does not belong in the chord there

 

where? And who's to say it "doesn't belong?"

  • Author

I've never seen a lead sheet where the chords didn't match the melody

what do you mean my "match?" Do you mean that the notes of the chords aren't always in the melody? That's not always a problem. You could consider the melody note an extension of the chord. When you play the melody on the piano with the chords it pretty much works out that way, the melody acting as an extension of the chord. I'll agree with snake_cake, I don't see the logic of the Edim or the G7sus2 instead of just a Gm7 or G7, but you probably thought the same of the chords I sent you LOL

Edited by jejrekmek

 I think the Edim kinda sounds weird because it's basically a C7 but it goes to Dm chord. Try an Ebdim or Ebdim7 instead, I like the sound of that better. Also try a C11b9 at the end instead of the C11. I like b9 dominant chords lol.

Edited by jejrekmek

  • Author
17 minutes ago, jejrekmek said:

 I think the Edim kinda sounds weird because it's basically a C7 but it goes to Dm chord. Try an Ebdim or Ebdim7 instead, I like the sound of that better. Also try a C11b9 at the end instead of the C11. I like b9 dominant chords lol.

 

Ohh I like the sound of that Ebdim7, and the c11b5 sounds good too. 

23 minutes ago, jejrekmek said:

Again what do you mean my "match?" Do you mean that the notes of the chords aren't always in the melody? That's not always a problem. You could consider the melody note an extension of the chord. When you play the melody on the piano with the chords it pretty much works out that way, the melody acting as an extension of the chord. I'll agree with snake_cake, I don't see the logic of the Edim or the G7sus2 instead of just a Gm7 or G7, but you probably thought the same of the chords I sent you LOL

 

That's what I mean, I was always taught to build my chord progression around my melody. 

  • Author
16 hours ago, Snake_Cake said:

I think most chords are ok.

  • The only one I think it's clearly wrong is that G7sus2: it's a normal G7(plus a 9th in the melody that moves to a 8).
    • Gm7 could also work but I think G7 is more effective here.
  • That Dm7 would probably work better as D7 (other alternatives: D7/F# or F#dim7).
  • That Edim doesn't make much sense, I'd repeat here the previous F chord (only possibility if the following chord has the F# in the bass) or maybe an A7 or Am7b5. You could even put an Eb7.

Then, here are a few alternatives or optional additions, but nothing important:

  • "I've heard": F7
    • another alternative: Cm7 moving fast to F7
  • "Keep my mind..." Both chords without the /F
    • another alternative: put an Eb7 on "on His word".
  • "day by": Eb7(no3rd).

All the Eb7 chords are very spicy, maybe a bit too much depending on your style.

Cheers!

 

You think the A7 would sound good there? I'll have to play it through and see if I hear it. Thx for the feedback

  • Author

Are these chords closer to what you guys are saying?

image.png.78abeafec891923df18dfbedfb23d223.png

  • Author

I'm hearing something over "He leads me on..", but I can't seem to find it

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