Let’s take this back to basics, The Three Chord Trick. Simply a song using the I, IV and V of the scale (in any order) in the major or minor keys, either will work. So that can be A, D and E or E, B and A or G, C and D, the list goes on. On guitar/bass it makes a nice little triangle. A lot of early 1950s rock and roll used this and is still used by modern songwriters. Its a great building block to have in your songwriting.

So many examples, here’s a few:

The Beatles - Twist and Shout

The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I go

Ritchie Valens - La Bamba

The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums

George Ezra - Budapest

I snagged the list below from https://yourguitarbrain.com/three-chord-trick/

  1. Blowin’ in The Wind - Bob Dylan | Key signature: D Major | Chords: D Maj, G Maj, A Maj
  2. Wild Thing - The Troggs| Key signature: A Major | Chords: A Maj, D Maj, E Maj
  3. Leaving on a Jet Plane - John Denver| Key signature: G Major | Chords: G Maj, C Maj, D Maj
  4. Bad Moon Rising - John Denver| Key signature: D Major | Chords: D Maj, A Maj, G Maj
  5. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen| Key signature: D Major | Chords: D Maj, G Maj, A Maj
  6. Dizzy Miss Lizzy - The Beatles| Key signature: A Major | Chords: A Maj, D Maj, E7 Maj
  7. Let it Bleed - Rolling Stones| Key signature: C Major | Chords: C Maj, F Maj, G Maj
  8. Already Gone - The Eagles| Key signature: G Major | Chords: G Maj, D Maj, C Maj
  9. You Shook Me All Night - AC/DC| Key signature: G Major | Chords: G Maj, C Maj, D Maj
  10. I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett| Key signature: E Major | Chords: E Maj, A Maj, B Maj

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