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Related Music Theory Alchemy

Verse 2 of Grizzly Bear’s “Yet Again” presents a straightforward harmonic progression that is common in pop and indie rock music. This series of chords is mainly built around the key of A minor, and uses diatonic chords (those that naturally occur within the key) of this key. The recurring sequence (Am, G, C, F, F, Em, C, Dm) indicates a strong sense of familiarity and predictability, characteristic of many pop/rock anthologies.

“Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear exhibits a common pop chord progression and harmonic rhythm. The chords are primarily in root position, which contributes to the song’s straightforward and accessible sound. Stylistically, the track shows the band’s indie-rock influences and features a prominent piano part that drives the harmony.

The chord progression in Verse 3 of Beck’s “Say Goodbye” features an interesting mixture of diatonic and chromatic chords with noticeable tonal shifts. The progression is G – A# – Am – C – G – A# – Am – C, with an emphasis on the G major key. This progression conveys an expressive and slightly unstable mood, creating tension and release with the inclusion of borrowed and non-diatonic chords.

“Creep” by Radiohead is a song in the key of G major that gained significant attention for its melancholic lyrics and distinctive chord progression. The verse chord progression features major chords, followed by a switch to a minor chord, which creates an unexpected twist and contributes to the emotive quality of the song. This specific progression is relatively rare in popular music but has been used in various other songs.

“Love Of My Life” by Queen, especially Verse 3, showcases a mix of simple and complex harmony, with many secondary dominants, borrowed chords, and diminished chords contributing to varying and shifting tonal centres. This makes for an emotional and contextually appropriate progression that fits well with the song’s lyrical content.

Grizzly Bear – Yet Again – VERSE 3

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’]

Chord Progression Analysis

This is the chord progression for Verse 3:
“`
– A minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘VII’)
– C major (‘III’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– E minor (‘v’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– D minor (‘iv’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘VII’)
– C major (‘III’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– E minor (‘v’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– D minor (‘iv’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘VII’)
– C major (‘III’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– E minor (‘v’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– D minor (‘iv’)
“`
Borrowed chord:
“` D minor (‘iv’) is a borrowed chord from the parallel key (A minor) “`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – Paranoid Android [“Em, G, D, Am”]
“`
– E minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘III’)
– D major (‘VII’)
– A minor (‘iv’)
“`

2. Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 [“G, D, C, C”]
“`
– G major (‘I’)
– D major (‘V’)
– C major (‘IV’)
– C major (‘IV’)
“`

These songs show similar use of the minor i chord, and also employ sequences of III, VII, and IV chords. They share a similar exploratory, haunting quality with “Yet Again”.

Musical Analysis

In A minor, the primary chords are Am, Dm, Em (i, iv, V). Here, we see those primary chords present, along with chords borrowed from the parallel major (A major)—those chords being C, F, G which are III, VI, and VII respectively. The presence of ‘VII’ (G major) and ‘VI’ (F major) chords add a mixolydian flavor to the song. The repeating sequence of ‘III-VI-VI-V’ contributes to the haunting feeling of the progression.

Overall Analysis

“Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear uses a repetitive verse structure that has a fairly common, major-oriented progression, but develops interest by alternating the exact sequence of chords that it employs. This gives the song a haunting but familiar atmosphere. The mixture of minor and major chords, along with the presence of a borrowed chord, creates tension and release within each verse.

Style Analysis

Grizzly Bear’s style is often characterized by complex harmonic structures and detailed arrangements. Their use of dynamics and layering in “Yet Again” is typical of their oeuvre and creates a sense of space, depth, and emotional resonance. The progression and construction of the song reflect influences from both classic rock and progressive pop, marrying simplicity in song structure with a complex and emotionally charged harmonic language.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Yet Again by Grizzly Bear are:

[‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’]