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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer is a rock song, primarily falling within the alternative rock and power pop styles. The chord progression of Verse 1 is simple yet effective in creating a somber, introspective mood. It primarily utilizes diatonic chords of the C major key, with the E major chord borrowed from the parallel minor key (C minor).

Chord progression analysis with Roman numerals:
A minor (vi) – E major (V/vi) – F major (IV) – C major (I)

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Borrowed chord: E major (V/vi)
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“Undone – The Sweater Song” by Weezer is a grunge rock song from their debut album, “Weezer (The Blue Album)” released in 1994. The chord progression in Verse 2 seems to blend elements from both pop and rock genres, with some diatonic chords and a borrowed chord that adds an unexpected twist.

“Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones uses a common rock arrangement with a focus on the V, I, and vi chords. The distinguishing factor for this particular progression is its consistent use of inverted chords to create more linear, and stepwise, bass lines.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day, released in 2004, is an alt-rock anthem that largely follows a 4-chord progression throughout the song. The key signature of the song is E minor (derived from the root chord), and essentially all chords used in the song are diatonic, meaning they are derived from the scales of the key. The chorus shifts to a progression in C Major. However, it returns to E minor at the end.

The song “Yesterday” by The Beatles is in the key of F major and spans chord I to VI. It is characterized by a deeply expressive melody and distinctive harmony. The chord progression seems simple, yet it makes full use of secondary dominants, borrowed chords, and subtly shifting tonal centers for narrative, which is a trademark of The Beatles’s songwriting style.

Weezer – Say It Aint So – Chorus

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Chord Progression

Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C

Chord Progression Analysis

Am (vi) – E (V/vi) – F (IV) – C (I)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep”
Chord Progression: G (I) – B (III) – C (IV) – Cm (iv)

2. Green Day – “When I Come Around”
Chord Progression: G (I) – D (V) – Em (vi) – C (IV)

3. Pink Floyd – “Wish You Were Here”
Chord Progression: Em (ii) – G (IV) – Am (vi) – Em (ii)

4. The Cranberries – “Zombie”
Chord Progression: Em (iii) – C (I) – G (V) – D (ii)

Musical Analysis

The chord progression starts on the vi (Am) chord, which serves as the relative minor to the tonic C major. This creates a darker, more introspective sound to the chorus. The next chord is E (V/vi), which can be seen as a borrowed chord from the parallel harmonic minor key (A harmonic minor).

“` Borrowed Chord: E (V/vi) “`

This introduces a greater sense of tension, which is then resolved to the F (IV) chord. Finally, the C (I) tonic chord resolves the progression and brings it back to the major sound. The repeating nature of this progression creates a sense of familiarity, while the interplay between the minor and major chords lends the progression its emotional depth.

Overall Analysis

The chorus of Weezer’s song “Say It Ain’t So” can be analyzed as a simple and memorable chord progression in the key of C major. The progression features a repeating pattern of four chords: Am, E, F, and C.

Style Analysis

Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” is a rock song with a grunge influence, characterized by its distorted guitar riffs and introspective lyrics. The style of this progression, with its somber start on the vi chord and use of a borrowed chord to create tension, contributes to the overall mood of the song. The simple, diatonic nature of the progression is also reminiscent of traditional pop songwriting.

Chords in the Chorus section of Say It Aint So by Weezer are:

Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C