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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 verse chord progression in Beck’s “Girl Acoustic” features a bright and uplifting feel, with a mix of major and minor chords. The progression is in the key of A major and showcases a simplicity that is common in pop and folk music.

“Castles Made of Sand” by Jimi Hendrix is a psychedelic rock song that features a unique and colorful chord progression, blending major and minor tonalities in a way that creates tension and a sense of longing. The verse consists of a 12-chord progression that builds upon the foundation of the major key of C, even though it starts with the IV chord (F), which contributes to the song’s unusual character. The progression includes borrowed chords from the parallel minor and elements specific to Hendrix’s own style, making it a remarkable piece in terms of its harmonic complexity and eclecticism.

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane is a pop/rock song written in the key of A Major, although the chord progression given seems to be transposed to the key of C Major. It is characterized by its use of repeated motifs and sequenced chord progressions to create a sense of familiarity and typical of the pop genre.

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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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Beck – Paper Tiger – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

E, E7, Bm

Chord Progression Analysis

E (I), E7 (I7), Bm (v)

Borrowed Chords:
None

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Exit Music (For a Film)”
Chord progression: Bm (i), E (IV), E7 (IV7), Bm (i)

2. Elliott Smith – “Angeles”
Chord progression: Em (i), E7 (V7), Am (iv), A7 (IV7)

In both of these examples, the progression features a minor chord followed by a major chord, and then a dominant seventh chord, similar to “Paper Tiger”. These progressions also have an alternative and melancholic feel, demonstrating the appeal and influence of this chord progression style in modern music.

Musical Analysis

The progression begins with the tonic or ‘home’ chord, E major, establishing the key of the song. The second chord, E7, is the dominant seventh of the E major scale, which adds tension to the progression, with the tritone between the major third (G#) and minor seventh (D) creating a strong urge to resolve. Next is Bm, a minor v chord which is a bit unusual in a major key as the usual chord would be the V (B major). However, this provides a slightly darker and more melancholic tone to the progression compared to the conventional major V chord.

Overall Analysis

“Paper Tiger” by Beck is a unique and stylistic piece, displaying a blend of various genres and influences. The verse 2 chord progression is quite simple, but the harmonic choices create tension and provide a sense of movement throughout the progression. Combining the elements of rock, folk, and alternative music, this chord progression is both intriguing and musically satisfying.

Style Analysis

Beck is known for his genre-blending style and borrowing elements from various musical genres. In this case, the chord progression in “Paper Tiger” shows influences from genres like rock, folk, and alternative. The usage of the minor v chord contributes to the alternative and folk sound, as it diverges from the more traditional progressions commonly found in these genres.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Paper Tiger by Beck are:

E, E7, Bm