The Ocean Blue, with their signature sound blending dream pop and jangle-pop influences, has captivated listeners for decades. For guitar players, their music offers a fantastic opportunity to explore shimmering melodies and engaging chord progressions. If you’ve ever wanted to strum along to classics like “Between Something and Nothing” or “Drifting, Falling,” understanding the guitar chords behind their songs is your first step. This guide will help you navigate the world of Ocean Blue guitar chords, making their enchanting music accessible to play.
Exploring The Ocean Blue’s Guitar Style
The guitar work in Ocean Blue songs often features clean, bright tones, arpeggiated patterns, and memorable melodic lines that complement David Schelzel’s distinctive vocals. Their songs frequently reside in major keys, contributing to the uplifting and nostalgic feel characteristic of their music. You’ll find a mix of common chord types, often utilizing major, minor, and sometimes 7th chords to create rich harmonies. The overall guitar style is approachable and melodically driven, making it rewarding for guitarists of various skill levels to learn and play.
Essential Guitar Chords for Ocean Blue Songs
To start playing Ocean Blue songs on guitar, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with some fundamental chords that frequently appear in their music. These include:
- C Major (C): A foundational major chord.
- G Major (G): Another essential major chord, often paired with C.
- Am (A minor): A common minor chord, adding a touch of melancholy.
- F Major (F): A slightly trickier barre chord for beginners, but crucial for many songs.
- Dm (D minor): Another frequently used minor chord.
- Em (E minor): A versatile minor chord.
These basic chords form the backbone of many popular songs, not just within the dream pop genre but across a wide range of music. Mastering these shapes will significantly expand your ability to play Ocean Blue tracks and countless other songs.
Getting Started: Easy Ocean Blue Songs to Learn
For those just beginning to explore Ocean Blue’s catalog on guitar, some songs are more accessible than others in terms of chord complexity. Here are a couple of beginner-friendly options:
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“Between Something and Nothing”: This classic often uses a relatively simple chord progression. While the exact chords may vary depending on the arrangement or source, you can often find versions that focus on chords like C, G, Am, and F. Focus on a consistent strumming pattern, and let the melody guide you.
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“Drifting, Falling”: Another popular song that, in some simplified versions, can be played with chords like G, D, Em, and C. The emphasis here is on smooth chord transitions and capturing the song’s dreamy atmosphere.
When learning these songs, don’t be afraid to search online for simplified chord charts or tutorials specifically marked for beginners. These resources can often provide easier versions of chords or strumming patterns to get you started.
Level Up: Slightly More Challenging Songs
Once you’re comfortable with the beginner songs and basic chords, you can explore tracks that introduce slightly more complexity:
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“Ballerina Out of Control”: This song might incorporate barre chords more prominently or feature slightly faster chord changes. You might encounter chords like Bb, Eb, or Gm in addition to the basic chords.
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“Marigold”: Depending on the arrangement, “Marigold” can also present a step up in complexity. It might involve 7th chords or more intricate chord progressions that require more practice to smoothly transition between.
As you progress, listening closely to the original recordings and paying attention to chord changes will become increasingly helpful. Don’t hesitate to slow down the tempo when practicing to ensure accuracy and clean transitions between chords.
Resources for Ocean Blue Guitar Tabs and Chords
The internet is a treasure trove of resources for guitar players looking for tabs and chords. For Ocean Blue songs, websites like:
- Ultimate-Guitar.com: A vast database of user-submitted tabs and chords for countless songs, including many by The Ocean Blue. You can often find multiple versions, from simplified to more accurate transcriptions.
- Chordify.net: This website automatically detects chords in songs on YouTube or uploaded audio files, providing a visual chord progression. It can be a useful tool for getting a quick overview of a song’s chord structure.
Remember to compare different sources and listen to the song to verify the accuracy of the chords you find online. Sometimes, user-submitted tabs may contain errors, so cross-referencing and using your ear are always good practices.
Conclusion
Learning to play Ocean Blue songs on guitar is a rewarding journey for any fan of their music. By starting with basic chords and gradually tackling more complex songs, you can unlock a world of dreamy melodies and jangle-pop goodness. So pick up your guitar, explore the chords outlined here, and immerse yourself in the beautiful soundscape of The Ocean Blue. Happy playing!
