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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Lost Cause” by Beck from the album “Sea Change” showcases a melancholic and heartfelt mood with a slow tempo, exuding a sense of introspection and vulnerability. The song can be described as a folk-rock ballad with subtle touches of country and indie rock.

The chord progression in the verse of Beck’s “Paper Tiger” can be considered a combination of common and non-diatonic chords. The progression moves from a major chord to its dominant 7th and then resolves to the relative minor. Stylistically, this progression is used in rock, pop, and jazz music to create tension and resolution while maintaining a sense of movement or flow.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Say Goodbye” by Beck features a simple, yet unique combination of major and minor chords. It is primarily built around the key of G major, but includes a chromatic twist with the inclusion of the A# major chord. The progression is fairly repetitive, which provides a stable and recognizable backbone for the chorus.

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain” is a popular song by Creedence Clearwater Revival from the 1971 album “Pendulum”. This song is performed in the key of C major, and uses chords from the diatonic scale. However, it also utilizes borrowed chords and chord inversions to create a bit of colour and novelty.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis is a rock song with folk roots and a melodic pop influence. It uses the alternative rock idiom of harmony, which bestows the song with a sound leaning towards traditional folk and classic pop. The band utilizes common vintage chords mixed with modern progressions to create that identifiable Oasis sound.

Beck – Lost Cause – Chorus

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Chord Progression

F, G, F, G, F, G, C, A7, F, G/C, F, G, F, G, C

Chord Progression Analysis

F Major (IV), G Major (V), F Major (IV), G Major (V), F Major (IV), G Major (V), C Major (I), A7 (V7/vi), F Major (IV), G/C (V), F Major (IV), G Major (V), F Major (IV), G Major (V), C Major (I)

Borrowed Chord: None

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Karma Police”:
Chords: Am (vi), D (II), G (V), C (I), Em (iii), Am (vi), G (V), C (I)
In this progression, Radiohead also utilize the IV-V movement (in this case, G-C) and employ non-diatonic chords (D Major) to create a mix of tension and resolution in the harmony.

2. Oasis – “Wonderwall”:
Chords: Em7 (iii7), G (V), Dsus4 (IIsus4), A7sus4 (VII7sus4), Cadd9 (Iadd9), Em7 (iii7), G (V), Dsus4 (IIsus4)
Here, Oasis emphasizes the IV-V pattern (in this case, C-G), and incorporates sus and add chords, thus adding a distinctive texture to the harmony.

Musical Analysis

This progression uses a recurring IV-V pattern (F-G) which gives a sense of movement and builds tension throughout the section. The A7 is the only non-diatonic chord here, which acts as a secondary dominant chord (V7/vi) and temporarily leads the listener towards the vi chord (A minor). However, instead of resolving to A minor, Beck cleverly returns to the IV (F Major) chord, thus thwarting the listener’s expectations and giving the progression a more interesting twist.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in the chorus of “Lost Cause” by Beck showcases a simple yet effective pattern utilizing major chords and a dominant seventh chord, which creates tension and resolution throughout the progression. The song is in C major, and the chords predominantly follow the diatonic harmony of the key. The style is reminiscent of folk and alternative rock, with the harmony playing a significant role in evoking a sense of melancholy in the listener.

Style Analysis

The simplicity and repetition of the IV-V pattern, combined with the addition of a secondary dominant chord, is indicative of Beck’s genre-blending approach, with elements from folk, alternative rock, and indie pop. The use of mostly major chords and the occasional twisting of harmonic expectations can be seen as reflecting the melancholic nature of the lyrics and the overall theme of the song, which talks about a futile and lost cause.

Chords in the Chorus section of Lost Cause by Beck are:

F, G, F, G, F, G, C, A7, F, G/C, F, G, F, G, C