“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
“Rockin’ All Over The World” is one of rock’s immortal anthems, with its powerful melody and passionate spirit that has conquered millions of fans worldwide. Few know that behind its simplicity and explosive energy lie interesting harmonic details, one of which was revealed by Status Quo’s legendary guitarist, Rick Parfitt himself, in a short video from the YouTube channel “Licklibrary – Online Guitar Lessons.”
In this video, a fan asked about a special chord Rick Parfitt plays in the song, and his answer provided a unique glimpse into the band’s creative process. According to Parfitt, the chord in question is a diminished chord.
What is a diminished chord and why is it considered “unusual” in rock music? In basic music theory, a major chord is built on three notes separated by specific intervals, similarly with minor chords. However, the diminished chord has a special structure, creating a tense, unstable sound that often carries dark or dramatic tones. Structurally, a three-note diminished chord includes the root note, a minor third, and a diminished fifth from the root.
Rick Parfitt admitted that Status Quo doesn’t frequently use diminished chords in their work. His statement “we don’t play that many diminished chords” suggests that using this chord in “Rockin’ All Over The World” was likely a deliberate and special choice.
So, why does “rocking demands one”? According to Parfitt, the “rocking” (powerful, passionate rock quality) of the song demanded the presence of this diminished chord. This suggests that although diminished chords typically carry a different feel from rock’s directness, in “Rockin’ All Over The World,” it plays an important role, perhaps creating an accent, an unexpected transition, or a special color for the song.
Rick Parfitt then tried to describe how to play this chord: “it is simply and then you drop the to the bottom a that’s probably the one you’re looking for so it is that I hope that helps.” This description is quite brief and might be difficult to visualize without video illustration. However, it suggests he’s showing a basic chord position, then making a simple change by moving a finger to form the diminished chord. The phrase “you drop the to the bottom a” might refer to lowering a note in the original chord to create the characteristic diminished fifth.
While the excerpt doesn’t provide specific details about note positions or exact fingering, it shows Rick Parfitt’s simplistic approach. He doesn’t delve into complex theory but focuses on the sound effect and emotion this chord brings to the song.
The fact that a veteran rock artist like Rick Parfitt revealed an interesting small detail in a major hit shows that even seemingly simple songs can contain subtleties and deliberate artistic decisions. The diminished chord in “Rockin’ All Over The World” is perhaps evidence of this, a special “ingredient” enhancing the appeal and uniqueness of a song that has become a rock and roll icon.
So next time you listen to “Rockin’ All Over The World,” try listening more carefully to see if you can recognize the “unusual” moment Rick Parfitt mentioned. Perhaps discovering these small secrets will give you a fresh and deeper musical experience.