Music Theory Alchemy

Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

The chord progression in the verse of Beck’s “Sexx Laws” is a blend of major and minor chords, which creates a unique and somewhat unpredictable sound. The progression shifts between the key of B major and G# minor, reflecting an adventurous approach to harmony. The style of this progression has a hint of funk and jazz, with a touch of blues.

The chord progression in the verse 2 of Beck’s “Morning” is an example of a common progression in popular music, involving the I, IV, iii, and ii chords. The harmony is mostly diatonic, staying within the key of E major. The progression features regular 4-chord phrases and a smooth, consonant flow between chords.

“Heart Is A Drum” by Beck, from the album Morning Phase (2014), features a simple but effective chord progression in the key of C major. This song can be classified as alternative folk rock, and the harmonies used in the chord progression are quite common in this genre, as well as popular music in general. The progression creates a sense of nostalgia and emotional resonance, elevated by Beck’s lyricism and vocal delivery.

The chord progression in MGMT’s “Congratulations” contains a mix of diatonic and non-diatonic chords, which provide a combination of stability and tension throughout the progression. The harmonic rhythm is slow, and the progression is mostly driven by bass line movement and voice leading. The mixture of borrowed chords, inversions, and suspended chords contributes to the overall unique character of the piece.

“Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones, from their album “Sticky Fingers” (1971), features a fairly straightforward repetitive chord progression of D, A, G, D in the verse. The key here is D Major. This common progression falls into a I-V-IV-I pattern known as a “plagal cadence”. It’s a progression which consists of a major key followed by its dominant (V), then its subdominant (IV), taking us back to the tonic (I).

Beck – Sexx Laws – Verse 2

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

B, G#, B, G#, B, G#, A, F#

Chord Progression Analysis

B Major (I), G# Major (VI), B Major (I), G# Major (VI), B Major (I), G# Major (VI), A Major (II), F# Major (V)

“`Borrowed Chords: G# Major (bVI)“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder: Eb min7 (i), Bb7 (V), Ab min7 (bVI), Eb min7 (i)

2. “Karma Police” by Radiohead: A min (i), E min (v), G (bVII), D maj (IV), G maj (bVII), C maj (III)

These songs also utilize non-diatonic chords and borrowed chords, giving them a unique harmonic character that sets them apart from standard progressions in popular music.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression starts with the B Major tonic chord (I), which establishes a clear sense of tonality. Next, the G# Major chord is a borrowed chord (bVI) from the parallel minor key (B minor). This gives a slightly unexpected twist and a touch of darkness to the harmonic movement. The alternation between B Major and G# Major creates a sense of tension and release throughout the verse.

The movement to A Major (II) brings a little bit of surprise as it is not a typical diatonic chord in the key of B Major. This non-diatonic chord adds more interest and color to the progression. Finally, the progression resolves back to F# Major (V), which is the dominant chord and strengthens the tonality in the key of B Major.

Overall Analysis

The given chord progression is from Beck’s song “Sexx Laws” and runs as follows: B, G#, B, G#, B, G#, A, F#. This progression features chords mainly from the B Major key, but includes borrowed chords from the parallel minor key as well. The harmonic movement showcases Beck’s interesting approach to songwriting and shows some influence from the soul and funk genres.

Style Analysis

Beck’s use of borrowed chords and non-diatonic harmony in “Sexx Laws” reflects his diverse musical influences, especially from soul and funk genres. The chord progression is a departure from standard pop progressions, showcasing his unique songwriting style. Beck is known for experimenting with various musical styles, and the harmonies in “Sexx Laws” are a testament to his eclectic approach.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Sexx Laws by Beck are:

B, G#, B, G#, B, G#, A, F#