Vamps

[apostolic_lady05]

I was wondering if there were any specific formats one follows for different vamps used while playing songs...

[musicmandan]

A lot of  vamps (a repeated section of a song usually occurring at the end) use a I-IV chord progression. Take for example, the song "God is a Good God" in the key of Eb. When you get to the call and response section "Yes He Is-Yes He Is", it bounces between the Eb chord (I) and the Ab chord,( IV). You can play almost anything that sounds good in your right hand as long as you hit those two notes in the bass on the down beat. I'm going to go out on a limb and say a vamp is usually only two chords, anything more would probably be called a progression.

[T-Block]

A Vamp is more or less just taking the main few lyrics from a song and repeating over and over, usually the title of the song.  The music can be anything u want it to be, but try to keep the main "feel" of the song.  A few chords is all you need w/a huge emphasis on the bass and other instruments besides the keyboard and/or organ.

There really is no set formula, but it shouldn't outdo the main parts of the song.  It should enhance the overall message, and u don't need to play a lot of chords to do that.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say a vamp is usually only two chords, anything more would probably be called a progression.

2 chords is all u need for a progression.