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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a classic rock song written in the key of C Major. It’s a brilliant representation of 60s and 70s folk-rock music with a chord sequence that is very recognizable, even to this day.

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The chord progression for Radiohead’s “All I Need” chorus features a simple and repetitive structure, with a strong emphasis on the tonic (C major) and its relative minor (E minor). The progression then ends with a brief move to the dominant (G major), before returning to the tonic. This accessible sequence reflects the song’s emotional vulnerability and simplicity, while also showcasing the band’s ability to create emotional depth in their music.

“Knights of Cydonia” by Muse features a harmonically straightforward chord progression within the rock style. This progression is primarily based in the key of E minor and centers around the Em, Bm, and A chords. Throughout the song, the driving rhythm, vocal melodies, and transitions between different sections contribute to its energetic and dramatic qualities.

Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a chorus that uses a sophisticated and intricate chord progression to drive the emotional depth and thematic elements of the song. This progression combines inversions and extensions to create a layered and textured musical atmosphere, reflecting the complexity of the song’s lyrics and enhancing its reflective nature.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

– F Major (‘IV’)
– G Major (‘V’)
– C Major (‘I’)
– C/B Major (First Inversion of ‘I’)
– A minor (‘vi’)
– A minor/G (First Inversion of ‘vi’)
– F Major (‘IV’)
– G Major (‘V’)
– C Major (‘I’)
– C/B Major (First Inversion of ‘I’)
– A minor (‘vi’)
– A minor/G (First Inversion of ‘vi’)
– F Major (‘IV’)
– G Major (‘V’)
– C Major (‘I’)
– G Major (‘V’)
– C Major (‘I’)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”:
– Em (‘ii’)
– D (‘V’)
– G (‘I’)
– G/F# (First Inversion of ‘I’)
– Em (‘ii’)
– D (‘V’)
– G (‘I’)

2. The Beatles’ “Let It Be”:
– C (‘I’)
– G (‘V’)
– Am (‘vi’)
– F (‘IV’)
– C (‘I’)
– G (‘V’)
– F (‘IV’)
– C (‘I’)

Note: Both Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” and The Beatles’ “Let It Be” possess similar IV-V-I and I-V-vi-IV progressions, with “Heart of Gold” featuring an inversion of the I chord like in “Have You Ever Seen The Rain”. Neither of these songs exactly match the core progression of “Have You Ever Seen The Rain”, but they have very similar vibes and utilize a common structure in their chord progressions.

Musical Analysis

The progression starts off in a classic IV-V-I sequence in the key of C major, giving it a pleasant melodic and harmonic progression. The C/B is a borrowed chord from the C Mixolydian scale, it’s actually a C major chord with B as the bass note. This creates a walking bassline effect where the bass note descends step by step (C-B-A). The barred Am-Am/G progression mirrors the I-bVII-vi progression, further enhancing the descending bassline effect.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

Creedence Clearwater Revival was known for their distinctive blend of country rock and swamp rock. This chord progression is fairly common in the country-rock genre, as it provides a solid foundation while also allowing for some melodic variety with the use of inverted chords and borrowed chords. The song is simple, but with a heartfelt and nostalgic feel, characteristic of the band’s hit songs.

Chords in the Chorus section of Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival are:

[‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’]