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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.

The chord progression of “Say Goodbye” by Beck uses a combination of diatonic and borrowed chords within the key of G major. The verse features a total of 8 chords: G major, A# major, A minor, and C major. The use of a borrowed chord (A# major) adds an interesting twist to the progression and provides a unique color to the harmony.

“Creep” by Radiohead is a well-known song that features a fairly simple chord progression in its bridge. The progression is memorable for its fusion of diatonic and chromatic elements, creating a sense of tension and interest.

“In My Head” by Queens of the Stone Age shows a variety of complex chord progressions that are often seen in alternative rock and other sub-genres of rock music. The chord progressions seem to use a combination of modal and chromatic harmony which gives it an edgy and intriguing sound quality.

“Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a rock song that alternates between heavy distortion and calm sections. Interestingly, the song is mostly in E minor, but uses a lot of power chords (5th chords) and sus2 chords which give the song a distinctively undecided, floating feeling, as these chords don’t have a clear major or minor character. The song uses a rather straightforward progression with a few deviations and embellishments which provide tension and release.

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