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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.

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin is a hard rock song that was released in 1969. The song features a famous guitar riff with a simple, blues-influenced chord progression. That guitar riff is based on the D and E chords and can be heard throughout the main part of the song. The verse consists of the same primary chords as the riff, with slight variations in the E chord during the iconic “You need cooling” vocal part. The overall harmonic structure of the song with its repeating chords D and E gives it a strong I-V dynamic while staying in the D Mixolydian mode. Additionally, the guitar riff borrows elements of other blues progressions, creating a distinguished sound.

“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley is a popular and iconic song that showcases Jeff Buckley’s unique vocal talent and emotional delivery. The song is in the key of C major and features a simple yet effective chord progression. The song’s memorable melody is accompanied by guitar, which uses arpeggiated fingerpicking. This adds to its musical depth and also creates dynamic rhythmic interest. The song builds in intensity as it progresses, and this, along with the powerful lyrics, contributes to the overall emotional impact of the piece.

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The given chord progression is from the verse 3 of the song “The Good Life” by Weezer. The song is in the key of G major and features a mix of diatonic chords from the G major scale and a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (G minor).

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Grizzly Bear – Yet Again – VERSE 3

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

This is the chord progression for Verse 3:
“`
– A minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘VII’)
– C major (‘III’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– E minor (‘v’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– D minor (‘iv’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘VII’)
– C major (‘III’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– E minor (‘v’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– D minor (‘iv’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘VII’)
– C major (‘III’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– F major (‘VI’)
– E minor (‘v’)
– A minor (‘i’)
– D minor (‘iv’)
“`
Borrowed chord:
“` D minor (‘iv’) is a borrowed chord from the parallel key (A minor) “`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – Paranoid Android [“Em, G, D, Am”]
“`
– E minor (‘i’)
– G major (‘III’)
– D major (‘VII’)
– A minor (‘iv’)
“`

2. Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 [“G, D, C, C”]
“`
– G major (‘I’)
– D major (‘V’)
– C major (‘IV’)
– C major (‘IV’)
“`

These songs show similar use of the minor i chord, and also employ sequences of III, VII, and IV chords. They share a similar exploratory, haunting quality with “Yet Again”.

Musical Analysis

In A minor, the primary chords are Am, Dm, Em (i, iv, V). Here, we see those primary chords present, along with chords borrowed from the parallel major (A major)—those chords being C, F, G which are III, VI, and VII respectively. The presence of ‘VII’ (G major) and ‘VI’ (F major) chords add a mixolydian flavor to the song. The repeating sequence of ‘III-VI-VI-V’ contributes to the haunting feeling of the progression.

Overall Analysis

“Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear uses a repetitive verse structure that has a fairly common, major-oriented progression, but develops interest by alternating the exact sequence of chords that it employs. This gives the song a haunting but familiar atmosphere. The mixture of minor and major chords, along with the presence of a borrowed chord, creates tension and release within each verse.

Style Analysis

Grizzly Bear’s style is often characterized by complex harmonic structures and detailed arrangements. Their use of dynamics and layering in “Yet Again” is typical of their oeuvre and creates a sense of space, depth, and emotional resonance. The progression and construction of the song reflect influences from both classic rock and progressive pop, marrying simplicity in song structure with a complex and emotionally charged harmonic language.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Yet Again by Grizzly Bear are:

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