Music Theory Alchemy

Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

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.

“Think I’m In Love” by Beck is a pop-infused indie rock piece that features an easy-going, catchy melody and a simple yet effective chord progression. The use of repetitive chords throughout the Outro creates a sense of stability and familiarity. The Outro builds upon the tonal center of F Major established earlier in the song and prolongs the tonic, adding to the song’s overall sense of closure and resolution.

“Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins draws from the band’s unique style of alternative rock influenced by a distinct palette of harmonic choices. Particularly in the songwriting of Billy Corgan (the band’s primary songwriter), the band tends to use a mix of common and uncommon chords, together with a tendency of exploring different tonalities. Often, the chord changes are driven by guitar inversions, suspensions, or additions.

“Time” by Pink Floyd is a progressive rock song from their iconic album, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973). The listed chords form the harmonic basis of the chorus section. The harmony is characterized by diatonic major seventh chords, interspersed with a few borrowed chords. The chorus features a fluctuating major/minor tonality, giving the song an emotional and contemplative feel.

The chorus of “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is built around a progression that oscillates between a single major chord, F, and a single minor seventh chord, Cm7. This is quite minimalistic. Major chords usually have a happy, positive feel, while minor chords induce a somewhat sad, introspective mood. The use of C minor 7th gives a particular color to the progression: it’s a minor chord with an added minor seventh, which means it’s a bit less stable than a regular minor chord.

Beck – Girl Acoustic – Chorus

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A

Chord Progression Analysis

E Major (V) – D Major (IV) – A Major (I)

Similar Chord Progressions

There are many songs that share a similar structure of moving between the V, IV, and I chords. Some examples are:

1. “Yellow” by Coldplay: B Major (V) – A Major (IV) – E Major (I)
2. “Let It Be” by The Beatles: G Major (V) – F Major (IV) – C Major (I)
3. “With Or Without You” by U2: D Major (IV) – A Major (I) – E Major (V)

These songs, like “Girl Acoustic,” utilize the strong resolutions and the tension between the V and IV chords to create memorable and engaging progressions.

Musical Analysis

The progression is a repeated pattern of three chords – E, D, and A. This particular sequence creates a strong and stable harmonic structure built around the tonic. The constant return to the tonic provides the sense of resolution and conclusiveness, whereas the movement from V to IV chords creates tension, contributing to the song’s overall emotion.

The movement from E to D (V to IV) is a classic “plagal cadence” that is widely used throughout various music genres, enhancing the song’s catchiness and familiarity.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression of the chorus in Beck’s “Girl Acoustic” is relatively simple and straightforward, yet effective in creating a memorable and catchy tune. The song is in the key of A major, and the progression maintains a predominantly diatonic harmony.

Style Analysis

The progression’s simplicity and constant return to the tonic can be seen as a defining stylistic characteristic of Beck’s songwriting, which often employs straightforward yet effective harmonic structures. “Girl Acoustic” is predominantly a pop-influenced indie-folk song, and the chord progression reflects that in its accessible nature.

Chords in the Chorus section of Girl Acoustic by Beck are:

E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A, E, D, A