Harlan Howard once explained that a great country song is just “three chords and the truth.” But you can still get at the truth with an extra chord as the Red Hot Chili Peppers have done over and over again. Check out these four Chili Pepper classics to see the formula the band has used to become one of rock music’s most reliable hit makers.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Californication”
I’ve written before about how the Red Hot Chili Peppers accomplish so much with so little. Rick Rubin deserves much of the credit. You can find a video of Rubin working with Flea to finalize the bass line for “Give It Away”. Rubin says, “Keep it really simple.” That’s exactly what Flea’s band has done since Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
The opening notes to “Californication” are sparse. John Frusciante had just returned to the band, and his minimalist playing on this record continued the band’s evolution from punk jams to melodic ballads. This chorus, like many RHCP hits, relies on only four chords.
“Snow (Hey Oh)”
Simplicity often hides behind the virtuosity of Frusciante, Flea, and drummer Chad Smith. Here, Frusciante burns a beautiful riff showcasing why he’s one of rock’s most exciting guitarists. But again, it’s only four chords. The four chords just happen to lie behind the difficult arpeggios he plays over Flea’s staccato groove.
When Anthony Kiedis sings “Hey oh,” it feels like a lullaby. Comfortable, easy. Rubin’s production philosophy is to use only what’s needed. If the song is great, you don’t need piles of tracks (or chords).
“Can’t Stop”
Frusciante’s best riff. Period. There’s a reason the band opens most concerts with “Can’t Stop”. Here’s how it goes down:
Flea, Frusciante, and Smith rip through a Hendrix-like improvisation before the jam falls into a slow build, anticipating the intro to “Can’t Stop”. By the time Frusciante finally plays the riff, Kiedis bounces across the stage to join the frenzy—shirt still on—sending the Chili Pepper faithful into utter bliss. How many chords are in the riff? I think you know the answer.
“Otherside”
Four-chord hits are not unique to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tom Petty wrote one of the most ubiquitous four-chord classics ever: “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”. And perhaps by accident, Frusciante echoes Petty’s chord progression on “Dani California”. Well, it feels like four chords, but it begins and ends with A minor. So, more like Harlan Howard’s three-chord-truth vibe.
Returning to Californication, the album leans further into the melodic blueprint set by “Under The Bridge” and “Breaking The Girl”. But it can also be traced to “Knock Me Down” from Mother’s Milk. Yet you’ll notice the chords getting simpler over the decade, and “Otherside” became yet another RHCP blockbuster four-chord hit.
Photo by Pavel Suslov
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