Russian chanson on guitar
Russian chanson means minor-key story songs, three main chords and an accompaniment where the bass alternates with the chord. Below are the chords, scale, techniques and an example you can hear and practise.
1960s70–130 BPMAm–Dm–Ebass-chord
What is Russian chanson
The word comes from French, but Russian chanson is a genre of its own. In the 1990s the name brought together the urban romance, street and “prison” songs, emigrant songs and story songs about everyday life. Its roots go back to the early 20th century.
The guitar here accompanies the voice. Many performers used to play the seven-string guitar; today the six-string is more common. The basis is minor chords, a bass note on the strong beat and a chord on the weak beat, fingerpicking and singing melodies with vibrato.
Signature chords
The famous “three chords” are Am, Dm and E: tonic, subdominant and dominant in A minor. E7 is often played instead of E - it pulls back to Am even more strongly. Try Am, Dm, E7, Am.
Scale for soloing
Melodies are built on A minor; below is the natural minor from the 5th fret. Over the E chord the melody usually uses G sharp instead of G - that is the harmonic minor, and it gives the genre its poignant colour.
Techniques
Bass-chord
A bass note on the strong beat, a chord on the upper strings on the weak beat. The bass alternates: A and E for Am, D and A for Dm. The accompaniment below is built this way.
The E7 dominant
The major chord on the fifth degree brings G sharp into the minor key, and it pulls towards A. Tap E7 and then play Am - you will hear the chord resolve.
Slide in the melody
A note glides into the next one as the finger slides along the string. In songs it sounds like a voice stretching a word. Tap the example to hear it.
Accompaniment in the chanson style
Four bars: Am, Dm, E7, Am. Bass on beats one and three, chord on two and four; the bass alternates between two notes of the chord. Play evenly and quietly - this is a backdrop for the voice.
Chanson-style melody
The melody rises from A to D, passes through G sharp over E7 and returns to A with vibrato. Play it in a singing way, as if it were a voice.
The riff opens as a draft: change notes, tempo and tracks however you like.
Open in RiffonicWhat to listen to
Listen to these songs and pay attention to what is described next to each one.
- Vladimir Vysotsky - “Na Bolshom Karetnom”. An early song: a seven-string guitar and vigorous strumming - how the street songs of the early 1960s sounded.
- Alexander Rosenbaum - “Vals-Boston”. A song in waltz time, counted in three. A waltz accompaniment - bass on one, chord on two and three - is easy to play on Am, Dm and E.
- Mikhail Krug - “Vladimirsky Tsentral”. A slow minor-key story song: the accompaniment is simple, and the melody and the words are what matter.
Every riff and solo on this page is an original exercise in the style of the genre, not the notes of someone else’s song.
FAQ
What chords do you need for Russian chanson?
To start, Am, Dm and E (or E7) - the famous “three chords”. Later add C, G, A7 and F for moves into major and links between verses.
What guitar is Russian chanson played on?
It used to be the seven-string guitar with its own tuning. Today most people play a regular six-string - all examples on this page are for it.
What is bass-chord accompaniment?
A bass note on the strong beat and a chord on the weak one. The bass usually alternates between the root and the fifth of the chord: A and E for Am.