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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Heart Is A Drum” by Beck is primarily a folk and indie rock song that features an interesting harmonic structure in the Hook 2. The progression adds complexity and emotional depth to the song by diverging from the standard conventions of Western popular music. The chord progression includes a borrowed chord, which adds richness to the overall sound.

“Sexx Laws” by Beck is a unique and interesting piece that combines elements of various musical styles including funk, rock, and pop. The chord progression found in Verse 3 is quite simple yet effective, creating a sense of tension and release.

“Perfect” by The Smashing Pumpkins is written in the key of D major. The song takes a relatively standard and common approach in chord progression, particularly with the cyclical variations that have the onset within a classic pop/rock realm. The tonality and mid-tempo pacing give the song a melancholic and nostalgic tone.

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The Beatles were known for their innovative use of musical elements, and this can be seen in “I Want To Hold Your Hand”. The song is largely in the key of G major, but it also has some borrowed chords from other keys. This variety creates a unique listening experience that keeps the song fresh.

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The chord progression in the bridge of Kali Uchis’ “After The Storm” consists of two alternating chords, Amaj7 and Dmaj7, played repeatedly. This progression is simple yet effective, creating a smooth and mellow atmosphere that matches well with the song’s overall neo-soul and R&B vibe. The arrangement is in the key of A Major and has a diatonic structure without any borrowed chords.

Beck – Heart Is A Drum – Bridge

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Chord Progression

G, Dm7, F, G, Dm7, F, C

Chord Progression Analysis

G Major (I), D minor 7 (v7), F Major (♭VII), G Major (I), D minor 7 (v7), F Major (♭VII), C Major (IV)

Borrowed Chord:
`D minor 7 (v7)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “High and Dry” (Verse): [‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘A#’, ‘C’]
F Major (I), G Major (II), A minor (iii), F Major (I), G Major (II), B♭ Major (♭IV), C Major (V)

2. The Beatles – “Here, There and Everywhere” (Verse): [‘G’, ‘Bm7’, ‘E♭’, ‘Gb’, ‘G’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G’]
G Major (I), B minor 7 (iii7), E♭ Major (♭VI), G♭ Major (♭I), G Major (I), D minor 7 (v7), G Major (I)

These examples also feature a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, as well as primary and secondary chords, creating an intriguing harmonic landscape. They showcase the versatility of popular music and how mixing chord types can evoke emotions and create interesting progressions.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression begins with the I chord (G Major) as the tonic, establishing the key center for the bridge. The second chord introduces a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key, G minor, which is the v7 (D minor 7). This adds some emotional color and unexpectedness to the progression.

Following the borrowed chord, we have a ♭VII (F Major), another non-diatonic chord that’s common in popular music. It moves back to the I chord (G Major), re-establishing the tonal center. The next two chords, Dm7 and F Major, are a repetition of the v7 and ♭VII respectively, reinforcing the pattern. The progression then concludes with the IV chord (C Major), often used in popular music as a pre-dominant chord that leads back to the tonic.

Overall Analysis

The bridge of Beck’s “Heart Is A Drum” features a mixture of diatonic chords and borrowed chords. This creates a sense of continuous flow, which is commonly found in many popular music songs. The progression contains primary chords (G, C, and F) and a secondary chord (Dm7).

Style Analysis

This chord progression is present in the bridge of the song, which often seeks to provide a contrast to the verses and choruses in many popular music styles. The use of borrowed chords and non-diatonic chords adds a level of sophistication compared to a standard diatonic progression. The mixture of major and minor chords also provides a balance between happiness and melancholy, which is characteristic of Beck’s writing style.

Chords in the Bridge section of Heart Is A Drum by Beck are:

G, Dm7, F, G, Dm7, F, C