[52-6F-62]

Punk rock would be a minefield. And that's all only come out of the blues (skipping some historical points) which relies heavily on "standards".

So many of the compositions along that tract are made up of three to five notes in a limited variety of voicings and arrangements.

I - III - V - IV

Try Johnny Be Goode. Chuck Berry has his reputation but he could have pulled a move like this a large number of times by now [and somehow hasn't! (don't quote me on that, though)

I (4 Bars) - III (2 Bars) - I (2Bars) - V (2 Bars) - I (4 Bars)

Or something like that. But there's 90% of the song, repeated over.

[TremendousJudge]

Chuck Berry had one of his songs plagiarized note for note though. Sweet little sixteen and Surfin USA are the same song

[CalChris]

Country music, three chords and the truth, has it worse.

[52-6F-62]

Also from the blues! But [usually] in the pocket instead of syncopated.

But definitely. Especially modern pop country (gag) as even all the themes are the same! Red truck, light beer, America. Am I missing anything?

Anyway yeah—all the way back to Hank Williams you could form the basis of a case that any song that progresses Gmaj - Amaj - Dmaj on an acoustic guitar with a mournful vocal tone and downtrodden lyric content is a "rip off".

[rtkwe]

You forgot a 'guuurl' usually with a short skirt.

[really3452]

Obligatory Axis of Awesome - 4 Four Chord Song Exmple

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I

[rrauenza]

Rob Paravonian's Pachebel Rant I think predates this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

[52-6F-62]

Haha! Thanks for this. Spot on.

To add to that, if you haven't seen it yet: https://youtu.be/YWUQg0bqhVw