Looking for some easy songwriting inspiration? This is one of my favourite melodic and harmonic manipulation techniques. A very simple but effective idea. Retrograde basically means to play backwards, and it works well on melodic hooks as well as chord progressions.

This is a great way of creating new and fresh melodic and chord progressions from the hits, or getting more mileage from your own melodies and progressions.

First let’s check out Example A, the hook line from My Girl by The Temptations – and Example B which is same hook line played backwards.

Original hook line: My Girl by The Temptations Example A

Retrograde (played backwards) hook line My Girl by The Temptations Example B

This retrograde technique works well on chord progressions. It’s great for coming up with a chorus or verse part as shown by Example C

This could be the verse section:

Here’s the retrograde (played backwards) version of the same chord progression, this could be the chorus section. Simple as idea, but effective. Example D

And another, here’s Fade To Black by Metallica (original intro) Example E

Fade To Black by Metallica (retrograde intro) Example F

Day Tripper by The Beatles original riff Example G

Day Tripper by The Beatles (retrograde riff) Example H

Message In A Bottle by the Police original riff Example I

Message In A Bottle by the Police retrograde riff. Example J

As you can hear there can be some really cool ideas that can pop up, experiment with some of your own favourite songs’ riffs and chord progressions. Have fun.

Johnny Fleury is a qualified & professional music tutor with 30 years experience. Lessons available for guitar, bass, Chapman stick, singer-songwriter, recording & session work. All styles all ages. Personalised lessons available at Creative House in Parnell and on Waiheke Island.
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