Beck – Say Goodbye – Outro
Say Goodbye < All Analyses
Chord Progression
G, A#, Am, C, G, A#, Am, C
Chord Progression Analysis
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G major (I) – A# major (bIII) – A minor (ii) – C major (IV) – G major (I) – A# major (bIII) – A minor (ii) – C major (IV)
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Similar Chord Progressions
1. Radiohead – “Creep” (key of G major)
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G major (I) – B major (III) – C major (IV) – C minor (iv)
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The borrowed chord in this song is the B major, which is a major III chord, and borrowed from the parallel minor key. This creates a similar tension and release as in “Say Goodbye,” but with a different chromatic approach.
2. The Beatles – “Something” (key of C major)
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C major (I) – Eb major (bIII) – A minor (vi) – F major (IV)
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Here, the borrowed chord is the Eb major (bIII). The progression features a similar chromatic move with the addition of the borrowed chord as in “Say Goodbye.”
While these progressions are not exactly the same, each features a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key, enhancing the emotional and harmonic complexity of the piece.
Note that it is tricky to find other progressions that match Beck’s “Say Goodbye” progression directly – this is mainly because the particular choice of the borrowed bIII chord adds a unique touch that may not be commonly found in other songs.
Musical Analysis
The progression starts with the tonic chord, G major, establishing the key. It then moves to the borrowed chord, A# major, which functions as a bIII chord. This chord is borrowed from the parallel minor key (G minor), introducing a chromatic element to the progression.
The next chord, A minor, is diatonic to the key of G major and functions as a ii chord. Moving to A minor after the A# major chord creates a smooth chromatic descent from the A# to the A.
The progression then moves to the C major chord, which is the IV chord in G major. This progression (ii-IV) is a fairly common subdominant expansion in pop music.
The overall progression (I-bIII-ii-IV) creates tension and release with the borrowed chord, A#, providing the tension, and the resolution happening through the transition from A minor to C major.
Overall Analysis
The chord progression in the outro of Beck’s “Say Goodbye” is an interesting combination of diatonic and chromatic elements. The use of the borrowed chord A# major in the mostly diatonic setting adds an unexpected twist to the progression, creating a unique and expressive harmonic landscape.
Style Analysis
Although the progression is nontraditional, it can be seen that Beck’s “Say Goodbye” works with elements from pop, rock, and folk music. The unexpected harmonic twist provided by the borrowed chord (A# major) creates a unique sound, adding an innovative and tasteful touch to the piece.
What are the chords in: Beck – Say Goodbye – Outro?
G, A#, Am, C, G, A#, Am, C
