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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis is written in the key of C major. Although it largely conforms to the traditional progressions expected within this key, the song does feature some interesting variations in the form of borrowed chords coming from the parallel minor key (C minor) – a common technique used in pop and rock music.

This iconic Britpop song predominantly features the use of traditional tonal harmony found in pop songs throughout the late 20th century, and the verse specifically recalls the harmonic patterns utilized in the 1950s and 60s. The defining feature of this song (as is the case with many Oasis tunes) is the use of returning, resounding repetitions of simple chord sequences.

The chord progression in the verse 2 of “House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals is an iconic progression in popular music. The song is in the key of A minor, and is built using diatonic and borrowed chords with some chromaticism. The progression features a strong sense of movement and resolution, with the mix of major and minor chords creating an emotional and dramatic atmosphere.

** The Beatles are well known for their creative and unusual use of chords and harmonies. In “Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds”, there is a clear example of their innovative harmonic vocabulary. They employ a variety of common, borrowed, and chromatic mediant chords to create a remarkable soundscape that complements the psychedelic theme of the song.

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The chord progression featured in Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack” Verse 2 is a four-chord loop that moves from G major to C major (acting as a suspension) and B minor (with an added 9th), creating an interesting mix of tonalities and suspensions. The progression establishes G major as the tonal center but continually moves away from it, creating a sense of ambiguity.

Oasis – Dont Look Back In Anger – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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These are the chords and their roman numerals per your request, please manage that all chords listed are triads (three notes) unless indicated otherwise (like the E7 which has four notes):

“`
C (I),
G (V),
Am (vi),
E7 (V7/vi), *borrowed chord,
F (IV),
G (V),
C (I),
Am (vi),
G (V),
C (I),
G (V),
Am (vi),
E7 (V7/vi), *borrowed chord,
F (IV),
G (V),
C (I),
Am (vi),
G (V)
“`
The E7 in this context is a secondary dominant – it is the V7 of the vi chord, Am. It provides a strong pull towards the Am chord and gives the progression a bit of tension and release. In other words, we “borrow” the V7 from the key of A minor.

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Similar Chord Progressions

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The aforementioned Andalusian cadence is a ubiquitous chord progression found in multiple genres and songs. As such, here are a few songs with

Musical Analysis

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This progression shows a mix of tonic (I and vi), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V) harmonies, providing a rich harmonic variety within a major tonal center. The composition also uses secondary dominants (V7/vi) which adds a bit of harmonic tension that is then resolved – known as a tonicization – giving the progression an interesting twist.

The particular progression C-G-Am-E7 is also called the Andalusian Cadence, a progression used frequently in both popular and classical music from several cultural traditions, including Flamenco.

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Overall Analysis

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“Don’t Look Back In Anger” uses simple yet effective chord progressions common in pop/rock music. It incorporates both major and minor chords, showing some classic pop sensibilities. The song is situated in the key of C Major. Embedded within this progression are instances of borrowed chords – the E7 for instance, is a secondary dominant, often used to inject a bit of tension and to give strong resolution leading into the next chord.

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Style Analysis

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Oasis popularized the Britpop genre in the late 90s and early 2000s, which fused British pop and rock music. The chord progression found in “Don’t Look Back In Anger” is emblematic of their style – harmony rich, and reminiscent of the Beatles.

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Chords in the Verse 2 section of Dont Look Back In Anger by Oasis are:

[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]