Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis, a popular rock ballad, is characterized by its melancholic chord progressions. Its key is major, specifically C Major, but it involves a frequent use of borrowed chords for a touch of bitterness, matching the poignant lyrics.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis is in the key of G major and features an effective and memorable chord progression that repeats throughout the song. The progression falls into the indie rock and Britpop genres, highlighting simple, strong harmonies, and incorporates a repeated sequence of Em–G-D–A7sus4 throughout its composition with occasional deviations.

“Rocky Raccoon” by The Beatles incorporates chords commonly associated with the genre of folk or country music. It is primarily built on a repetitive chord progression which consists of Am7, D7sus4, D7, G7, C, and C/B. There’s also a use of plenty of sevenths and suspensions to create a slightly jazzy feel. It’s also worth noting The Beatles’ penchant for chords that provide a mix of major and minor tonalities.

“Right Where It Belongs” by Nine Inch Nails features a melancholic and somewhat unconventional chord progression that moves between different tonal centers. The base key can be identified as F major from the frequency of F major chords in the progression.

“Hey Joe” is a famous song by Jimi Hendrix, which features a simple yet very effective chord progression throughout its verses. It has a five-chord progression, which is C, G, D, A, and E. This progression creates a strong and recognizable flow, thus contributing to the song’s iconic status.

Oasis – Dont Look Back In Anger – Verse 2

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

**

These are the chords and their roman numerals per your request, please manage that all chords listed are triads (three notes) unless indicated otherwise (like the E7 which has four notes):

“`
C (I),
G (V),
Am (vi),
E7 (V7/vi), *borrowed chord,
F (IV),
G (V),
C (I),
Am (vi),
G (V),
C (I),
G (V),
Am (vi),
E7 (V7/vi), *borrowed chord,
F (IV),
G (V),
C (I),
Am (vi),
G (V)
“`
The E7 in this context is a secondary dominant – it is the V7 of the vi chord, Am. It provides a strong pull towards the Am chord and gives the progression a bit of tension and release. In other words, we “borrow” the V7 from the key of A minor.

**

Similar Chord Progressions

**

The aforementioned Andalusian cadence is a ubiquitous chord progression found in multiple genres and songs. As such, here are a few songs with

Musical Analysis

**

This progression shows a mix of tonic (I and vi), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V) harmonies, providing a rich harmonic variety within a major tonal center. The composition also uses secondary dominants (V7/vi) which adds a bit of harmonic tension that is then resolved – known as a tonicization – giving the progression an interesting twist.

The particular progression C-G-Am-E7 is also called the Andalusian Cadence, a progression used frequently in both popular and classical music from several cultural traditions, including Flamenco.

**

Overall Analysis

**

“Don’t Look Back In Anger” uses simple yet effective chord progressions common in pop/rock music. It incorporates both major and minor chords, showing some classic pop sensibilities. The song is situated in the key of C Major. Embedded within this progression are instances of borrowed chords – the E7 for instance, is a secondary dominant, often used to inject a bit of tension and to give strong resolution leading into the next chord.

**

Style Analysis

**

Oasis popularized the Britpop genre in the late 90s and early 2000s, which fused British pop and rock music. The chord progression found in “Don’t Look Back In Anger” is emblematic of their style – harmony rich, and reminiscent of the Beatles.

**

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Dont Look Back In Anger by Oasis are:

[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]