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Related Music Theory Alchemy

Tame Impala’s “Let It Happen” is a song in A major key. The chord progression seems simple at first, with a repetitive motive throughout the verse but it creates a hypnotic effect that is very much in line with Tame Impala’s psychedelic style.

The song “Let It Happen” by Tame Impala, which is in the key of A Major, uses a simple yet effective chord progression during its outro. The common pattern of I-vi-IIIIV (Major-minor-Suspended 4) recurs throughout. The G#sus4 chord provides a moment of tension before resolving back to the tonic and restarting the pattern. The progression concludes with an Emaj7 chord, which is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor.

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane is a pop/rock song written in the key of A Major, although the chord progression given seems to be transposed to the key of C Major. It is characterized by its use of repeated motifs and sequenced chord progressions to create a sense of familiarity and typical of the pop genre.

“The Sound Of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel is written in the key of Am and follows the Verse-Chorus form common in pop and rock music. The progression consists of a beachfront of common and borrowed chords, showing the use of modal interchange and diatonic chords in creating a memorable and emotive sound.

“Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones is performed in the key of G major. However, the initial chord progression beginning on B minor gives it a modal feel, specifically borrowing chords from G Lydian mode (IV of D Major). It’s an interesting mixture of folky rock with a touch of the blues, and the chord progression is largely based around the typical I-IV-V progression found in many rock songs, but with many deviations and additions.

Key: G Major

Tame Impala – Let It Happen – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘G#sus4’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘G#sus4’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘G#sus4’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The primary chord progression for Verse 2 is: A Major (‘I’), F#m (‘vi’), G#sus4 (‘bii sus4’). Looking at all the chords in the song, we see some more variations and borrowed chords in later parts of the song. Here’s the primary progression’s chord analysis in full on one line:

“`
A Major (‘I’), F#m (‘vi’), G#sus4 (‘#vii sus4’)
“`

In this case, we are working in the key of A Major. This ‘bii sus4’ is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor of A, which is a common technique used for achieving color and tension.

Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression is used by the Eagles in their song “Hotel California” which has a progression of Bm (‘vi’), F# (‘III’), and A (‘V’). The song employs a similar technique to “Let It Happen” where the progression doesn’t conclusively resolve, creating an ambiguous and somewhat insatiable feeling to the listener.

“`Bm (‘vi’), F# (‘III’), A (‘V’)“`

Musical Analysis

Tame Impala’s chord progression technique in “Let It Happen” is interesting because it does not strictly follow conventional theory rules. The A Major and F#m chords prolong the tonality of A Major, but then we have the ‘bii sus4’ chord that becomes an unexpected surprise.

The Mannish Boys “Everything’s Alright” uses a similar I-vi-II progression as the one in “Let It Happen.” The II is the ‘bII’ borrowed chord from “Let It Happen”. In both songs, these chords provide a feeling of ambiguity and tension that is released when the progression repeats.

Overall Analysis

“Let It Happen” by Tame Impala is characterized by its psychedelic and experimental nuances. It features an overall bright and uplifting tone despite its use of some more complex chords. The song ska common in pop music. The chord progression in question has a strong melodic sensibility demonstrating Kevin Parker’s ability to incorporate complex musical ideas into a pop format.

Style Analysis

The dominance of the psychedelic sound in “Let It Happen” is highlighted by the chord progression. Tame Impala manipulates these chords in a way that reflects the psychedelic rock, space rock, and neo-psychedelia genres that the band is known for. This manipulation of tension and release throughout the chord progression can be seen as one of the building blocks for the song’s trippy and expansive soundscape.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Let It Happen by Tame Impala are:

[‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘G#sus4’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘G#sus4’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘G#sus4’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’]