A four-chord song can still break hearts. Simple isn’t the same as easy.

Simplicity describes the materials, not the difficulty. Four chords leave nowhere for technique to hide, so everything rests on melody, words, timing and the performance, which is a harder exam rather than an easier one. The songs that stay with people tend to use very little and use it exactly.

Write something this week using only three or four chords and refuse to add more. When it feels thin, fix it with a better line or a different rhythm instead of a new chord. The discipline of not reaching for complication is worth more than any new chord you could learn.