Music Theory Alchemy

Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

Taylor Swift

The chorus of Taylor Swift’s song “ME!” employs a bright and catchy chord progression that’s emblematic of pop music’s joyful and exuberant character. This progression underpins the song’s themes of self-affirmation and positivity, making it an infectious and memorable part of the track.

View More

Taylor Swift

“Anti-Hero,” a standout track from Taylor Swift, exemplifies her mature songwriting style that merges introspective lyrics with intricate harmonies. This song’s verse utilizes a chord progression that creates a rich emotional landscape, perfectly complementing the themes of self-reflection and personal imperfection. The progression, while rooted in the traditional pop structure, employs extended chords to enhance its lyrical narrative, adding layers of complexity that resonate with listeners.

View More

Muse

The chord progression from Muse’s “Hate This And I’ll Love You” displays a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords from the parallel minor. The progression is in the key of A major and shows an unconventional use of chords that gives the song its unique sound. It also showcases certain characteristics of Muse’s music style that includes complex chord progressions and frequent changes between major and minor harmonies.

Chord Progression Analysis and Roman Numerals:

A ('I'), Gm ('bVII'), D/F# ('IV/V'), A ('I'),
Gm ('bVII'), D ('IV'), A ('I'), Gm ('bVII'),
D/F# ('IV/V'), A ('I'), Gm ('bVII'), D/F# ('IV/V')

The borrowed chord in this progression is Gm, taken from the parallel minor, A minor:
`Gm (‘bVII’)`

View More

Elton John

“Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, written in the key of C Major, is a classic example of elaborate pop song writing. The chord progression features common primary and secondary chords in the key of C Major, along with some borrowed chords to add color. This combination makes for a memorable and melodic song.

The most unique feature of the song is how it slowly changes to the key of C minor in the second half of the verse, making use of two borrowed chords. This is a powerful tool in songwriting, as it can dramatically affect the emotional tone of the song. Lastly, this song demonstrates Elton John’s use of Coloristic harmony, through chromatically altered chords.

View More

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a verse chord progression that is both simple and evocative, utilizing variations of the tonic chord to create a sense of movement and build tension before resolving into more straightforward chord changes. This kind of progression is characteristic of songs that aim to evoke a contemplative or narrative-driven mood, which is a frequent theme in Swift’s songwriting.

View More

Taylor Swift – Me – Verse

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

C, Am, F, G

Chord Progression Analysis

The chord progression for the verse of “ME!” adheres to the key of C major, comprising the following chords:

“`
C Major (I)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
G Major (V)
“`

All these chords are diatonic to C major, presenting a common but ever-effective I-vi-IV-V sequence that’s particularly popular in the pop genre for its cheerful and resolved sound.

Similar Chord Progressions

The I-vi-IV-V progression’s popularity spans a wide array of artists and genres, showing its versatility and emotional range. Here are similar progressions in other iconic songs:

Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin’”
“`
E Major (I)
C# Minor (vi)
A Major (IV)
B Major (V)
“`

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge”
“`
E Major (I)
C# Minor (vi)
A Major (IV)
B Major (V)
“`

Elvis Presley – “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
“`
D Major (I)
B Minor (vi)
G Major (IV)
A Major (V)
“`

These examples illustrate how the same fundamental chord progression can underpin vastly different musical experiences, from rock anthems to tender ballads. Taylor Swift’s “ME!” fits into this tradition with a distinctly pop-oriented take, emphasizing clarity, joy, and a direct lyrical message.

Musical Analysis

The I-vi-IV-V progression in the verse of “ME!” creates a cycle that feels inherently complete and satisfying, lending itself well to a verse structure that aims to set the stage for the chorus. This progression is highly effective in pop music for its ability to provide a strong melodic foundation, allowing the melody to shine and the lyrics to take center stage.

The transition from the tonic (C Major) to the submediant minor (A Minor) adds a touch of emotional depth while still maintaining the overall upbeat feel. The movement to the subdominant (F Major) and then to the dominant (G Major) builds anticipation effectively, which naturally resolves back to the tonic or leads into the more dynamic chorus.

Overall Analysis

The verse of Taylor Swift’s “ME!” features a chord progression that is archetypal for upbeat pop music, echoing themes of brightness and positivity. This progression harnesses straightforward harmonic movement to support the song’s enthusiastic vibe, making it highly effective for conveying the song’s message of self-love and confidence.

Style Analysis

In “ME!”, Taylor Swift uses this progression to support the song’s peppy and spirited tone. The simplicity of the chord progression allows the other elements of the music—such as catchy hooks, dynamic rhythms, and vibrant production—to stand out, making the song memorable and engaging. Swift’s style in this track is defined by its mainstream pop appeal, characterized by its accessibility and sing-along quality.

Chords in the Verse section of ME! by Taylor Swift are:

C, Am, F, G

Music Theory Alchemy
Facebook Twitter Youtube

Resources

Blog

Educational Institutions

Free Use Sample Data

Company

About Us

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Copyright 2025 ©

Music Theory Alchemy

Site by kylealtenderfer.com

Music Theory Alchemy

Music Theory Alchemy Home

Artists

Songs

Favorites

Popular

News

About