Talking About A Revolution Chords

Learn how to play talking About A  Revolution by Tracy Chapman!

The chord progression for 'Talking About A Revolution' is very simple and has been used thousands of times before and after this release.

The I - IV - VI - V pattern has a logical movement that strives back to where it begun by moving up a 4th, up a 3rd, down a tone, up a 4th.
Repeat this and you see how we move up in 4ths from D - G - C. 

These type of progressions (cycle of 4ths) are often found in cyclic patterns, but also as turnarounds in Blues (VI - II - V - I)

Using the extensions: IVadd9, Vsus2 and Vsus4 to vary the very traditional I IV VI V progression Tracy manage to combine three cliche's here and still making it her own. 

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1. The Chord Progression
2. The add9 extension on the IV chord
3. Busking style guitar arrangement

In fact, should you attempt something similar people might even say that you sound like Tracy Chapman.

The vocal message being very 'from the street' sounding does go hand in hand with the guitar arrangement and we get a clear message.

Combining all these factors with two more gigantic hits in 'Fast Car' and 'Baby Can I hold You' and Tracy Chapman's success as a writer and artist was given before you even turned her debut album over.

To understand how chords work in relation to melodies, use the DIY TAB to write down the vocal. As you do, notice how different sections of the song is only indicated by in which register the vocal melody starts.

Does this mean that he secret to great song writing lies within when to hit what interval?

Cadd9, C shape D, D shape Dsus2, D shape Dsus4, D shape Em, Em shape G, G shape