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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.

“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.

“Dont Let Me Down” by The Beatles is a song that’s heavily grounded in the key of E Major, with some interesting use of borrowed chords for a richer, more emotional harmonic texture. The song is a fine example of The Beatles’ songwriting style, which often involves mixing diatonic chords with chromatic passing chords, borrowed chords, and secondary dominants.

The bridge of Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” features an intriguing chord progression, which presents both diatonic and borrowed chords, as well as chromatic harmony. The song’s key is C major, but it touches on the parallel minor key and incorporates unusual chords such as the Eb major chord, which adds tension and surprise. The chord progression and harmonic rhythm are fairly consistent throughout the bridge, creating a sense of unity.

The bridge of George Benson’s “Give Me The Night” features a blend of jazz, R&B, and pop elements. The harmonic progression showcases a series of descending chords, interspersed with borrowed chords that provide an interesting twist to the overall tonality of the piece.

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