Wanted to look at a classic example, Stevie wonder, Higher ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X00XdLhFLSg
Main riff E G A
then it moves to a modulation F# A B
then the tag an A B, riff
back to E G A
the second time thru after A B goes to chorus
A E couple times
F# B7 for the tag
Now if we look closely the A B intro is from the end of modulation
Back to main riff, then reverse to A E (which gives us a 1 5)
and tag goes back to original modulation, minus a note, so the 1 4 of F# B7
That's how Stevie Wonder took 3 chords and made a song. Its brilliant when you look at it. Great song, and not very complicated to duplicate.
I'll expand a bit, the E G A riff is classic. I've written a song or to with it, you can ride it a long ways.
What stevie wonder adds is a one step modulation. The A B tag could easily be duplicated with the F# A B, he takes out the F #
Then the chorus, back to E G A mode, cept now takes out g rides A E so reverse, you can't go wrong with that.
Make it more simple, E G A, then chorus A E that is a pretty solid song.
Of course he adds in modulation at the end gives it an F# B tag last two notes of the mod.
