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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane is a softly and tenderly written song that rests primarily on the key of C Major. However, it uses a fair amount of borrowed chords from the parallel minor key, giving it a warm, melancholic tone, which is typical of many pop ballads.

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane uses a handful of straightforward major and minor chords which contribute to a pop, atmospheric, and emotive sound indicative of the band’s alternative rock aesthetic. The chord progression of the pre-chorus is fairly common and creates a cyclical and slightly unsettled feel that fits well with the song’s lyrical themes of uncertainty and longing for return.

“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay is a pop song that sits primarily in the key of G major, featuring four common chords: C Major, D Major, G Major, and E minor. The song’s simplicity lies in the consistent use of these chords, which creates a consistent harmony throughout the song.

“Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones is a song in the key of G Major with a chord progression marked by the use of common chords and a few borrowed chords from other keys. The usage of minor and major chords conjures a variety of emotions synonymous with the mood of the song. The repetitive nature of the sequence creates a cyclical feeling that gives a strong sense of the song’s emotional journey.

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The given chord progression is from the verse of Beck’s song “Morning.” The progression is in the key of E Major and follows a cyclical pattern throughout the verse.

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Keane – Somewhere Only We Know – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gsus4’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is the analysis of the chord progression taken from Verse 1:
C Major (I),
C/B (I/II),
Dm (ii),
Gsus4 (V),
G (V),
C Major (I),
C/B (I/II),
Dm (ii),
Gsus4 (V),
G (V)

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Borrowed chords: None
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There are no borrowed chords in this particular progression as all chords are diatonic to C Major/A minor key (C Major and A Minor share the same key signature).

Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be seen in Coldplay’s “Yellow,” which also employs the frequent use of I, ii and V chords:

D (I), Bm7 (vi), F#m7 (iii), G (IV), D (I), Asus4 (V), G (I)

Another similar chord progression is John Mayer’s “Your Body is A Wonderland,” especially in the use of the I, ii, and V chords:

G Major (I), D Major (V),
Em7 (vi), Cadd9 (IV),
G Major (I), D Major (V),
Em7 (vi), Cadd9 (IV)

It should be noted that while these progressions have a similar outline to that of Keane’s verse progression, there are nuanced differences in each that may alter the mood or feeling of each song.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression mainly functions around the I-ii-V progression, which is a common progression in both classical and popular music. This verse is strongly anchored by the changes between C major and D minor, a dynamic relationship that creates a pull towards resolution. Interestingly, they used a Gsus4 before moving to G, adding a nice color to the progress before resolution.

Overall Analysis

“Somewhere Only We Know” composed by Keane, is a pop-ballad that is based in the key of A Minor. It makes use of both diatonic and borrowed chords in a modern pop style progression that creates an oscillating feel, with repetition for familiarity and simple melody drawn from the underlying chords.

Style Analysis

Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” chord progression follows a classic pop-ballad style, with use of the I-ii-V progression that is commonly heard in many popular music genres such as pop, rock, and jazz. It also includes a suspended chord (Gsus4), which is a common technique used in pop music to create tension and release.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Somewhere Only We Know by Keane are:

[‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gsus4’, ‘G’]