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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Jolene” by Dolly Parton is a classic country song written in A minor. Its chord progression is an iconic reflection of the country and folk genres, and is a study of simplicity and effective songwriting.

The chord progression of “Jolene” uses primarily diatonic chords but also includes a borrowed chord which introduces a touch of complexity to the harmonic structure of the song.

The chorus of “The Good Life” by Weezer features a mixture of diatonic and non-diatonic chords, with a primary focus on the key of G major. The chord progression stands out as somewhat unconventional due to the inclusion of chromatic chords, which gives it an interesting character and emotion. Additionally, the repetition of certain chords emphasizes the harmonic structure and creates a sense of familiarity.

“Cant Buy Me Love” by The Beatles, is a song in the key of C Major, but it has an interesting harmonic structure, especially in the chorus. The song features a number of borrowed and secondary dominant chords to create tension that resolves into the tonic chord. The chorus’s progression can be seen as a series of descending minor thirds, with an unexpected shift to a ii-V-I progression which is quite popular in jazz music.

“Undone – The Sweater Song” by Weezer features a chorus with a simple, yet effective chord progression that combines the use of power chords with major chords. This combination gives the song its distinctive indie rock sound and contributes to its overall catchiness. The chorus is based on a four-chord progression with three different chords, where G5 power chord is followed by two major chords, C and D.

Dolly Parton – Jolene – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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The Chorus is [‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’] arranged in a series of IV-I-V-VI

Full Chord Names (‘Roman Numerals’)
– A minor (‘vi’)
– C major (‘I’)
– G major (‘V’)
– E minor (‘iii’)

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Similar Chord Progressions

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1. “Horse with No Name” by America – [‘Em’, ‘D6/9’, ‘Em’] (although simplified, it’s similar in the use of a minor key, repeated chords, and a raised fifth degree)
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Full Chord Names (‘Roman Numerals’)
– E minor (‘ii’)
– D6/9 (‘I add6 add9’)
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2. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals – [‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘Am’, ‘E’, ‘Am’] (similar in using primarily I-IV-V progressions in a minor key)
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Full Chord Names (‘Roman Numerals’)
– A minor (‘vi’)
– C major (‘I’)
– D major (‘II’)
– F major (‘IV’)
– E major (‘V’)
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Musical Analysis

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The song’s tonal center is around the A minor chord, the vi degree in the C major scale, hence the song is in the key of A minor. The chord progression is straightforward with most being I-IV-V progressions, which is a common popular music progression.

It’s important to note that the move from G to Am (V-vi) is a deceptive resolution. The V chord typically would go to I in a perfect cadence, especially common in popular music. However, ‘Jolene’ moves to the vi chord, adding a sense of unresolved tension and melancholy that reflects the lyrics.

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Overall Analysis

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The song “Jolene” by Dolly Parton sports a simple yet effective chord progression. The entire song is in the key of C major / A minor (they share the same key signature), with a clear preference for the darker minor tones over the light major tones. This song is a great example of the use of simple chord structures and progressions to evoke emotive sensations.

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Style Analysis

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“Jolene” is a perfect example of Dolly Parton’s storytelling mastery, where the chord progression perfectly matches the song’s emotional intensity. The repeated minor chord gives the song a somewhat sad and desperate feeling, reflecting the song’s narrative. The use of a simple and repetitive chord progression makes this country song easy to follow, remember, and sing along to.

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Chords in the Chorus section of Jolene by Dolly Parton are:

[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’]