Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Paper Tiger” by Beck is a song from his album “Sea Change,” released in 2002. The style of this song is primarily alternative rock, with elements of psychedelia and baroque pop. The outro of “Paper Tiger” features a simple chord progression of E, E7, and Bm, with interesting harmonic techniques, such as secondary dominants and borrowed chords.

The bridge of “Say Goodbye” by Beck features a simple two-chord progression. However, this simplicity allows space for an interesting interplay between melody and harmony while still evoking strong emotions. Despite being simple, the progression still manages to create a sense of tension and resolution.

**
The overall use of chords highlights Queen’s blending of rock with more complex harmonic structures, moving beyond simple major & minor chords and incorporating 7th and inversions. Despite its pop/rock surface, “Somebody to Love” includes interesting modulation and chord choices that could be seen as more typical of more ‘classical’ forms of music.

**

The verse of “All I Need” by Radiohead features a simple chord progression consisting of three main chords: C, Em, and G. It alternates between these three chords for most of the progression, with some occasional repetition of the C chord. This progression provides a consistent harmonic foundation for the vocal melody and sets a mostly stable and melancholic mood.

“Hysteria” by Muse is a song with a heavy rock style, featuring a powerful bassline and distorted guitars. The chord progression mentioned is present in the first verse of the song. This progression is characterized by the use of standard tonal harmony and minor key tonality, with some slight variations that are typical in rock music.

Beck – Paper Tiger – Verse 1

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

E, E7, Bm

Chord Progression Analysis

E Major (I), E Dominant 7 (I7), B Minor (vi)

“`
E Major (I) – E Dominant 7 (I7) – B Minor (vi)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. The Beatles – “I Saw Her Standing There”
Chord Progression: E Major (I) – E7 (I7) – A Major (IV) – B7 (V7)

2. Bob Dylan – “Like A Rolling Stone”
Chord Progression: C Major (I) – Fmaj7 (IVmaj7) – G Major (V) – A Minor (vi)

3. The Police – “Every Breath You Take”
Chord Progression: I Major (I) – VImaj7 (vi^maj7) – IVMaj7 (IV^maj7) – iv^min6 (iv^min6)

These examples show similar usage of dominant 7th chords and resolution to either the IV chord or the relative minor. They demonstrate how this type of chord progression is used in various genres to create distinct and memorable musical experiences.

Musical Analysis

The progression starts with the tonic chord, E Major (I), which establishes the tonal center of the piece. The next chord, E Dominant 7 (I7), introduces tension with the inclusion of the minor 7th interval (in this case, D). This tension is released when the progression resolves to the relative minor (B Minor), which acts as a substitution for the IV chord that would typically follow a dominant 7th chord. The use of the I7 and vi chords adds interest and helps create a sense of movement within the verse while maintaining a unified tonal center.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in the verse of Beck’s “Paper Tiger” can be considered a combination of common and non-diatonic chords. The progression moves from a major chord to its dominant 7th and then resolves to the relative minor. Stylistically, this progression is used in rock, pop, and jazz music to create tension and resolution while maintaining a sense of movement or flow.

Style Analysis

This chord progression can be seen as a blend of rock, pop, and jazz influences, as it uses both diatonic and non-diatonic chords for tension and resolution. Beck often incorporates various genres in his music, and “Paper Tiger” is no exception. The use of dominant 7th chords and resolution to the relative minor is a common technique in jazz and blues music, while the major and minor chords are more prevalent in rock and pop. This combination of musical elements contributes to the unique sound and feel of the piece.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Paper Tiger by Beck are:

E, E7, Bm