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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The modality of the song “Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear is primarily in A minor, which makes it a piece in the minor modality. This song uses several traditional progression elements, but intermixes them with unexpected changes, especially the shift from E minor to F major, and the chromatic shift from G major to B flat major.

“Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear exhibits a common pop chord progression and harmonic rhythm. The chords are primarily in root position, which contributes to the song’s straightforward and accessible sound. Stylistically, the track shows the band’s indie-rock influences and features a prominent piano part that drives the harmony.

“When You Die” by MGMT features a fairly unconventional chord progression that mixes elements of rock, pop, and classic psychedelia. The progression creates tension and intrigue through the use of extended harmonies, chromaticism, and borrowed chords. The distinctiveness of this progression contributes to the song’s unique sound.

“Save Me” by Queen is in the key of G Major and it features a number of modulations to closely related keys. It resonates a distinct rock ballad style incorporating unique variations of common chord progressions from rock and pop genres. The progression’s utilization of inverted chords also brings depth and character to the melody.

2.

“Just The Two Of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. is a soulful song with a distinct R&B and smooth jazz style. The song is in the key of E minor during the verses, but frequently borrows chords from the parallel major, E major, delivering a rich harmony that is both pleasing and surprising to the ear.

Grizzly Bear – Yet Again – VERSE 2

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

“`markdown
A Minor (‘i’), G Major (‘VII’), C Major (‘III’), F Major (‘VI’), F Major (‘VI’), E Minor (‘v’), C Major (‘III’), D Minor (‘iv’)
“`

This is a smooth and coherent progression, primarily because it follows a recognizable pattern. The shift between the I chord (Am), the VII chord (G), the III chord (C), the VI chord (F), and the iv chord (Dm) offers a common movement in music theory.

Similar Chord Progressions

Here are equivalent examples by other artists:
1. Radiohead’s “Exit Music” (for a film): [‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘Dm’]
2. Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon”: [‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘Dm’]
These songs show similar modulatory schemes and thematic structures, adopting a similar compositional approach to Grizzly Bear.

Musical Analysis

The repeated sequence tread between two predominant modalities: A minor and C major. This repetitive progression creates a kind of textural layering, engaging listeners through an ethereal sound as chords alternate between the relative major and minor keys. The two F major chords in a row add a slight twist to the expectation, intensifying the overall progression before resolving back to the tonic.

Overall Analysis

Verse 2 of Grizzly Bear’s “Yet Again” presents a straightforward harmonic progression that is common in pop and indie rock music. This series of chords is mainly built around the key of A minor, and uses diatonic chords (those that naturally occur within the key) of this key. The recurring sequence (Am, G, C, F, F, Em, C, Dm) indicates a strong sense of familiarity and predictability, characteristic of many pop/rock anthologies.

Style Analysis

Grizzly Bear’s harmonic progression in “Yet Again” signifies a common trend in indie rock where songwriters exploit a more complex harmonic language, rotating between standardised major-minor tonalities. The verse embraces a style that emphasizes repetitive progressions, establishing a hypnotic, reflective, and somewhat introverted atmosphere typical of indie bands.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Yet Again by Grizzly Bear are:

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