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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.

This chord progression from the verse of Tame Impala’s “Alter Ego” suggests a key of C major due to the recurring instances of Cmaj7. However, the presence of certain chords like Bm7 and Dm suggests that Kevin Parker is creatively “borrowing” chords from the parallel and associated keys (C minor, D minor) to create colorful departures from the primary tonality. The use of extended chords (7ths) and suspended chords (Bsus4) adds a sense of complexity and sophistication to the harmony. As can be seen, the chord progression mostly oscillates between Cmaj7, Bsus4, Bm7 before moving to Dm and Gm towards the end of the verse.

“The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles is written in the key of D major and utilizes various chord progressions that contribute to its melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere.

The chord progression in the verse 2 of Megalomania by Muse is predominantly in the key of E minor, with several chromatic and borrowed chords that give the progression a unique character. This progression consists of 16 chords and features an interesting mix of diatonic chords, secondary dominants, and borrowed chords that contribute to the dramatic and dark atmosphere of the piece.

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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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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:

“`
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’]