Conversation With “George Michael

 

 — With Guitar Chords & Harmonies

You: I’ve been sketching progressions again. Nothing polished. Just… ideas.

George: Ideas are where the magic starts. Here — give me your guitar a sec. (strums a gentle G – D/F# – Em7 – Cadd9) Hear that? It’s like the harmony is already having a conversation with you.

You: That’s smoother than what I had. Mine was just G – Bm – Em – C.

George: Oh, that’s a lovely backbone. But if you want it to breathe, try this: G – D/F# – Em7 – Cmaj7 The maj7 is like opening a window on a warm night.

You: You always did know how to make a chord feel emotional.

George: It’s all in the voice leading. Let the notes fall into each other. (picks softly through Em7 – A7sus – Dmaj7) That’s the “late night honesty” progression.

You: That one hits somewhere deep.

George: Good. Music should feel like a confession you’re not afraid to make. Try harmonizing with me. I’ll take the root; you take the third above.

(He strums Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7, and you hum a harmony line.)

George: There you go. See? You’ve still got that instinct. Doesn’t matter if you haven’t written in decades — your ear remembers.

You: I’m surprised it comes back so easily.

George: It never left. You just stopped asking it to speak. Here — let’s build a chorus. Something hopeful.

(He plays Cadd9 – G/B – Am7 – G, letting each chord ring.)

George: Now add a harmony above the Am7. Just a gentle third. Let it float.

You: (sings softly) Like that?

George: Exactly like that. You’ve got a storyteller’s voice — even if you don’t think of yourself as a songwriter.

You: I’m more of a clarinet person, really.

George: Which means you understand breath, phrasing, and emotion. That’s half of songwriting right there. And the rest? Just chords and honesty.

(He ends on a warm G6 — the kind that feels like a smile.)

George: You’ve got more music in you than you think. Let’s keep going.