The Iron Giant & Emotional Chord Structures.

[Nitronium Blood]

That damn Iron Giant movie, made my cry like an old woman. Great movie though and I recommend that you watch it.

Although my theory skills are zero, it does not stop me from playing guitar. I leave the shredding to the shredders and I consider myself a 'riff' man.

With that said, after watching this tear jerker of a movie, I would like to know more regarding chord structures that are used to summarise a player's emotion. The feeling of loss of a loved one to be specific. Unfortunately, simply writing a root arpeggio style riff does me fuck-all unless I musically wish to say "Yeah let's tear this place down".

I know that I won't find an answer like "Oh you want to make a song about a lost loved one! Damn.. you should play this and this and this", but I would like your suggestions on where you would start if you were going to write a song about the death/loss of a friend/family member. Something beyond the standard 'just play minor chords' advice.

Please keep in mind I'm a total dumbass in the field of theory and any sort of 'emotional chord structures for dummies' resource or information you have would be very helpful.

Thank you.

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

Bm-->G-->Em is a nice progression, as heard in Radiohead's "Climbing the Walls" and smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" amongst others.

 

[Nitronium Blood]

Bm-->G-->Em is a nice progression, as heard in Radiohead's "Climbing the Walls" and smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" amongst others.

Thank you, I shall use this as a starting point.

 

[Smalex]

you can't go wrong with 0-8 riffs. ever.

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

3 and a half note intervals, metal to the max, max.

 

[Nitronium Blood]

you can't go wrong with 0-8 riffs. ever.

0-8 riffs?

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

that's E--->C on the bottom e string.

 

[Nitronium Blood]

that's E--->C on the bottom e string.

Ok, thank you. But how does that apply to emotion?

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

It's a really crushing cadence, sounds absolute and very definite.

A very strong chord change in plain english.

 

[Nitronium Blood]

It's a really crushing cadence, sounds absolute and very definite.

A very strong chord change in plain english.

Ok, thank you.