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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“The Less I Know The Better” by Tame Impala is in the key of E Major. The track has a unique blending of psych pop and synthrock, combining a funky bass line with Tame Impala’s signature synth timbre. Its harmonic structure is moderately complex and features some compelling chord progressions, with a few borrowed chords.

“Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala is a psychedelic pop song notable for its dreamy, lo-fi sound and use of unconventional chord progressions. Musically, the song is written in the key of F major, but creatively uses chromatic mediants, borrowed chords, and modal interchange to establish a unique harmony. The song also uses dynamic contrast to create a dreamlike atmosphere, increasing the song’s overall psychedelic effect.

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Looking at the entire song and isolating the verse, the chord progression provided shows a rock style often seen in Queens of the Stone Age compositions. The harmonic language of this song and its progression style fall within the realm of Pop / Rock music, with frequent use of minor chords suggesting a somber or introspective mood. On first glance, it appears to contain chords primarily from the key of F# minor, with no obvious borrowings from other keys. However, a closer inspection will allow us to delve deeper into their harmonic function.

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The given chord progression belongs to the verse 2 of the song “Apocalypse Please” by Muse. This progression reflects the band’s signature style that combines elements of rock, classical, and electronic music. The chords follow a pattern that combines both diatonic and chromatic movement, creating a dramatic and intense feel. A unique feature in this progression is the use of slash chords, which adds further harmonic interest.

“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak is in the key of B minor. The chord progression for the section provided, which is the verse, is unique due to its simplicity, making it easily accessible and memorable. Even though it is incredibly simple, consisting of just three chords, the progression manages to evoke a strong sense of melancholy and longing, which resonates powerfully with the song’s lyrical themes.

Tame Impala – The Less I Know The Better – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘B’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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Here’s the detail analysis of the verse progression:

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G#m (‘iii’), C#m (‘vi’), B(‘V’), E(‘I’), G#m (‘iii’), C#m (‘vi’), B(‘V’), E(‘I’), G#m (‘iii’), C#m (‘vi’), B(‘V’), B(‘V’), E(‘I’), G#m (‘iii’), C#m (‘vi’), B(‘V’), B(‘V’), E(‘I’)
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In this case, the iii chord (G#m) is borrowed from E minor (the parallel minor).

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Similar Chord Progressions

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1. Coldplay’s “Fix You” has a similar progression during the chorus. Here is the progression:

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E(‘I’), B(‘V’), G#m(‘iii’), B(‘V’), E (‘I’)
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2. The Beatles – “A Hard Days Night” also involves modal interchange and a similar progression:

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G(‘I’), F(‘♭VII’), C(‘IV’), G(‘I’)
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Musical Analysis

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Many popular songs use borrowed chords for giving depth and color to their progressions. The borrowed III chord can be used as a substitute for the I chord, add tension, or to modulate to a new key. Tame Impala has used the G#m (iii) chord to add color and tension to their E major progression.

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Overall Analysis

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The progression in the song “The Less I Know The Better” by Tame Impala shows a combination of borrowed chords and modal mixture, with most of the chords belonging to the key of E Major. The verse chords including G# minor, C# minor, B, and E, establish a strong use of modal interchange, borrowed from the parallel minor of E.

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Style Analysis

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The stylish use of borrowed chords, modal mixture, and cyclical chord progressions is a major element of Tame Impala’s sound. This song, in particular, maintains a consistent 4-chord progression with slight variation, a common feature in rock and pop music.

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Chords in the Verse 2 section of The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala are:

[‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘G#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘B’, ‘B’, ‘E’]