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“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 “Sexx Laws” is a blend of major and minor chords, which creates a unique and somewhat unpredictable sound. The progression shifts between the key of B major and G# minor, reflecting an adventurous approach to harmony. The style of this progression has a hint of funk and jazz, with a touch of blues.

“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead is a melancholic song with an emotional chord progression. The song is in the key of A Major and features a mixture of diatonic chords, suspended chords, and extended chords that create a sense of yearning and tension. The verse is characterized by a cyclical progression that begins and ends on the tonic (A), providing a sense of unresolved tension. This helps to support the song’s themes of artificiality and dissatisfaction.

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.

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The overall use of chords highlights Queen’s blending of rock with more complex harmonic structures, moving beyond simple major & minor chords and incorporating 7th and inversions. Despite its pop/rock surface, “Somebody to Love” includes interesting modulation and chord choices that could be seen as more typical of more ‘classical’ forms of music.

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Beck – Lost Cause – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, Am, E7, F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, Am, E7

Chord Progression Analysis

`F Major (I) – C Major (V) – C Major/B (V6) – F Major (I) – C Major (V) – C Major/B (V6) – F Major (I) – C Major (V) – C Major/B (V6) – A minor (vi) – E7 (V7/iv) – F Major (I) – C Major (V) – C Major/B (V6) – F Major (I) – C Major (V) – C Major/B (V6) – F Major (I) – C Major (V) – C Major/B (V6) – A minor (vi) – E7 (V7/iv)`

Borrowed Chord(s):
`E7 (V7/iv)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Bob Dylan – “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”: `C Major (I) – G Major (V) – Am (vi) – Am/G-Am/F# (vi6-vi/#4) – F Major (IV) – C Major (I) – C Major/E (I6) – F Major (IV) – G7 (V7) – C Major (I)`
2. Radiohead – “Exit Music (For a Film)”: `C Major (I) – Bm7-5 (viiø7) – Am (vi) – E7 (V7/iv) – F Major (IV) – Fm6 (iv) – C Major (I)`
3. The Beatles – “Blackbird”: `G Major (I) – G Major/B (I6) – Am7 (ii7) – Am7/G (ii7/7) – D7 (V7) – G Major (I)`

Musical Analysis

Throughout the verse, Beck alternates between the tonic (or I) chord, F Major, and the dominant (or V) chord, C Major. These alternations serve as a solid foundation, grounding the progression. As the bass note transitions from C to B in the C Major/B chord (also known as the V6 chord), it adds a stepwise motion to the movement, creating a sense of forward momentum in the progression.

The inclusion of the borrowed chord E7 (V7/iv) introduces a more dramatic tension and some ambiguity as it leans towards the parallel key of F minor, which would typically have an A-flat rather than an A natural. This tension is released as the progression resolves back to F Major (I).

Overall Analysis

The chord progression throughout this verse of Beck’s “Lost Cause” is predominantly in the key of F Major with some chords from its relative minor (D minor). The use of borrowed chords adds variety and color to the progression, and the alternation between F major and C major chords creates a strong sense of tonality and grounding in the key of F Major. The use of Am and E7 chords provides a brief tension and leaning toward the parallel key of F minor before resolving back to the original key. This adds interest and complexity to the otherwise straightforward progression.

Style Analysis

Beck’s style in “Lost Cause” is a blend of folk rock with alternative elements. The chord progression accentuates the melancholic mood of the song, enhanced by the use of A minor (vi) and the tension-building E7 (V7/iv) chords. The harmonic structure embraces a sense of simplicity with the repetition of the I – V – V6 chords, which serves as a nod to the roots of folk music.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Lost Cause by Beck are:

F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, Am, E7, F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, F, C, C/B, Am, E7