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Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a chorus that uses a sophisticated and intricate chord progression to drive the emotional depth and thematic elements of the song. This progression combines inversions and extensions to create a layered and textured musical atmosphere, reflecting the complexity of the song’s lyrics and enhancing its reflective nature.

The verse of Taylor Swift’s “ME!” features a chord progression that is archetypal for upbeat pop music, echoing themes of brightness and positivity. This progression harnesses straightforward harmonic movement to support the song’s enthusiastic vibe, making it highly effective for conveying the song’s message of self-love and confidence.

“The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” features a verse in A minor with a brief but significant shift to F minor, due to the use of borrowed chords or modal mixture. Notably, it showcases The Beatles’ sophisticated approach to harmonization, utilizing unconventional chord progressions & modulations that are cyclical.

The verse chord progression in Beck’s “Girl Acoustic” features a bright and uplifting feel, with a mix of major and minor chords. The progression is in the key of A major and showcases a simplicity that is common in pop and folk music.

“A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles, despite seeming to have a simple structure, is quite unique in its musical composition. The progression varies from standard rock, pop, and folk structure by integrating unique transitions and slightly unconventional chord choices.

Verse

Taylor Swift – Black Dog – Verse

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Chord Progression

C, C/E, C/F, C/G, C, C/E, C/F, C/G, Am, F

Chord Progression Analysis

The verse of “Black Dog” uses a series of chords based primarily around the key of C major, with a focus on decorative variations of the C major chord:
“`
C Major (I)
C/E (I/E)
C/F (I/F)
C/G (I/G)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
“`
These chord variations do not include borrowed chords; they are inversions and slash chords that enhance the harmonic texture without leaving the key’s established framework.

Similar Chord Progressions

The technique of using a pedal tone or repeating a chord while changing bass notes is a common device in many genres, creating a sense of continuity and cohesion. Here are similar progressions in other songs:

The Beatles – “Let It Be”
Progression:
“`
C Major (I),
G/B (V/B),
A Minor (vi),
F Major (IV),
C/G (I/G),
F Major (IV),
C/E (I/E),
D Minor (ii),
C Major (I)
“`
Coldplay – “Fix You”
Progression:
“`
C Major (I),
E/G# (III/G#),
Am (vi),
Fmaj7 (IVmaj7)
“`
Simon & Garfunkel – “The Boxer”
Progression:
“`
C Major (I),
C/B (I/B),
Am (vi),
G (V)
“`
These examples showcase how a central chord, varied through bass note alterations or inversions, can be used to create depth and interest in a song’s arrangement. Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” adopts this technique within a pop-folk framework, providing a platform for expressive lyrical content coupled with an engaging musical narrative.

Musical Analysis

The use of slash chords—C/E, C/F, C/G—provides a bass line movement that gives the illusion of a more complex progression while essentially remaining on the tonic (C Major). This technique creates a smooth, flowing sound that enriches the harmonic landscape without complicating the song’s overall structure.

The progression culminates with a move to A Minor and F Major, introducing a mild narrative tension and melancholy that enhances the song’s lyrical themes. This transition from a static harmonic environment into more emotive chords sets up a reflective and introspective mood, suitable for the storytelling nature of Swift’s lyrics.

Overall Analysis

Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a verse chord progression that is both simple and evocative, utilizing variations of the tonic chord to create a sense of movement and build tension before resolving into more straightforward chord changes. This kind of progression is characteristic of songs that aim to evoke a contemplative or narrative-driven mood, which is a frequent theme in Swift’s songwriting.

Style Analysis

In “Black Dog,” Swift’s approach can be seen as a blend of folk and pop elements, utilizing simple chord structures embellished with subtle complexities like slash chords to keep the arrangement engaging yet accessible. This style is effective for drawing listeners into the song’s narrative while maintaining musical interest with the bass movement created by the slash chords.

Chords in the Verse section of Black Dog by Taylor Swift are:

C, C/E, C/F, C/G, C, C/E, C/F, C/G, Am, F