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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“I Sat By The Ocean” by Queens of the Stone Age employs multiple chords which creates a complex and engaging harmony in the verse. The song is in the key G# major and it uses multiple borrowed chords from other keys. It’s worth noting that Queens of the Stone Age has a distinct sound that incorporates elements of stoner rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock into their material. Sizeable use of power chords that gives the song its heavy rock feel.

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Looking at the entire song and isolating the verse, the chord progression provided shows a rock style often seen in Queens of the Stone Age compositions. The harmonic language of this song and its progression style fall within the realm of Pop / Rock music, with frequent use of minor chords suggesting a somber or introspective mood. On first glance, it appears to contain chords primarily from the key of F# minor, with no obvious borrowings from other keys. However, a closer inspection will allow us to delve deeper into their harmonic function.

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“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.

“Tiny Dancer” is an iconic song by Elton John from his 1971 album Madman Across the Water. Written in the key of C Major, it genre-wise fits the mold of pop music from the early 1970s. Structurally, the song displays unique nuances, especially in its pre-chorus, which shifts the tonal center and incorporates some borrowed chords from parallel minor scales.

The pre-chorus of Weezer’s “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To (I Want You To)” features a simple yet effective chord progression primarily centered around the D major chord. The piece overall follows a pop-rock, alternative musical style consistent with the typical sound of Weezer.

Queens of the Stone Age – I Sat By The Ocean – Pre-Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘F#’, ‘G#7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The chords in the pre-chorus are E major, F# minor, and G# dominant 7th. In the key of E major, these chords are represented as follows:

“`
E Major (‘I’)
F# minor (‘ii’)
G#7 (‘III7’)
“`

Here, G#7 is a borrowed chord, as the diatonic chord on the third degree in the key of E Major is normally minor, and not a dominant 7th.

Similar Chord Progressions

One song with a similar chord progression is “Creep” by Radiohead. It uses a I-III-IV-IV progression in the key of G major, represented as follows:

“`
G Major (‘I’)
B Major (‘III’)
C Major (‘IV’)
C Major (‘IV’)
“`
Like “I Sat By The Ocean,” “Creep” also uses a major chord where a minor chord would be expected (the B Major), creating a similar sense of surprise and tension.

Musical Analysis

In a musical sense, this progression provides an interesting twist. The E major to F# minor transition is a common move from the tonic to the supertonic. However, transitioning from F# minor to G#7 is less common, especially in the context of a IV-V-I progression, which would be a typical expectation. This deviation creates surprise and tension, which helps maintain listener interest.

Overall Analysis

“I Sat By The Ocean” by Queens of the Stone Age is in the key of E major and utilizes a mix of diatonic chords (i.e., chords native to the key of E major) and borrowed chords (i.e., chords borrowed from parallel or related keys).

Pre-Chorus

Style Analysis

As a part of the stoner rock genre, Queens of the Stone Age often use unexpected chord progressions, odd time signatures, and unique tonal colors to create their distinctive sound. This chorus progression, with its borrowed chord, fits into this unconventional approach. The F# minor to G#7 creates a sense of “rising tension,” which is common in rock music, but done in a unique, unexpected way.

Chords in the Pre-chorus section of I Sat By The Ocean by Queens of the Stone Age are:

[‘E’, ‘F#’, ‘G#7’]