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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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The progression in the song “The Less I Know The Better” by Tame Impala shows a combination of borrowed chords and modal mixture, with most of the chords belonging to the key of E Major. The verse chords including G# minor, C# minor, B, and E, establish a strong use of modal interchange, borrowed from the parallel minor of E.

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“This Masquerade” by George Benson is a jazz/R&B fusion piece with a smooth and laid-back feel. It features a slightly chromatic and sophisticated chord progression, complete with altered extensions and slash chords, resulting in a rich harmonic texture that is both soulful and intricate. The progression has some similarities to other jazz and R&B chord progressions used by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan), and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” by George Michael displays a sophisticated use of common-pop progression with some borrowed chords and secondary dominants. The progression displays the pop and soul music influence, with its powerful use of dominant and subdominant movements.

“Within You Without You” from The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, composed by George Harrison, is a unique song in the Beatles’ discography. Musically, it truly merges the essence of Indian classical music with traditional Western music techniques. The chord progression is minimal and largely stays around the key of C major, which enhances the song’s drone-like effect, typical in traditional Indian music.

Tame Impala – Yes Im Changing – Intro

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Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’]

Chord Progression Analysis

C major (I) – Csus2 – C add9 – C major (I)
A minor (vi) – F Major (IV) – C Major (I)

G Major (V) – C major (I) – Csus2 – C add9 – C major (I)
A minor (vi) – F Major (IV) – C Major (I)

The Csus2 and C add9 chords are mere variations of the tonic chord and don’t really change the harmonic function of the progression.

“`
C Major (I)
Csus2 (Isus2)
Cadd9 (Iadd9)
A minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
G Major (V)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

The classic I – vi – IV – I progression used in “Yes I’m Changing” is somewhat reminiscent of the progressions often used by The Beatles, with a bit of a psychedelic twist. For example, the song “Let it Be” uses the progression:

C Major (I) – G Major (V) – A minor (vi) – F Major (IV)

The frequent use of the tonic chord and resolution-sus2-add9 pattern also bears some resemblance to the work of Pink Floyd, particularly in the song “Comfortably Numb” which uses a progression with a similar feel:

B minor (i) – A major (VII) – G (VI) – E minor (iv)

However, these comparisons are general and subjective, the unique sound Tame Impala creates is quite its own.

Musical Analysis

This continuous return to the C Major chord (the tonic) creates a strong feeling of tonal center. The progression creates a sort of “floating” feeling, with little tension that resolves back to the home key. The use of the sus2 and add9 chords provide a more open and resonant sound, adding texture to the progression. The use of the V chord (G major) injects a small amount of tension into the progression and serves to lead the progression back to the I chord (C major) again.

Overall Analysis

“Yes I’m Changing” by Tame Impala uses a repetitive chord progression throughout the majority of the song, alternating primarily between the chords C, Csus2, Cadd9, Am, F, and G. This pattern is characterized by constant resolution with the tonic of the key, C Major. However, the progression occasionally diverges from the typical diatonic pattern by introducing a G Major chord, which is a V chord in the C Major scale.

Style Analysis

Tame Impala is known for blending psychedelic music with elements of pop, rock, and electronic music. The chord progression, with its consistent return to the tonic and the use of extended chords (sus2 and add9), aligns perfectly with this stylistic approach. The constant repetition, the use of floaty, atmospheric timbres, and the harmonic simplicity here are in line with the approach that Tame Impala often takes, making the music both accessible and slightly “trippy”.

Chords in the Intro section of Yes Im Changing by Tame Impala are:

[‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘Csus2’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’]