One of the most powerful tools of songwriting we all have at our disposal lies within chords and rhythm. Lyric and melody gain dimension through this essential pillar of a song, working in tandem with chords and groove to complete a song’s personality or character. Lyric, and often melody, will never “override” the character inherent in the chords and rhythm. Rather, the personality of a lyric and melody is completed by them.
Imagine a Latin rhythm played at a particular tempo. Those same chords, played in a country waltz style, will carry a very different rhythm, and the character we imagine singing will shift dramatically. It’s not the chord names that cause the change in character, but the rhythm. In some cases, we might call this the “groove” of the song. Songs that groove capture the essential character of the genre, potently and usually quite succinctly. Strong instrumentalists practice groove regularly. It’s part of the job description if you’re going to get hired.