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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.

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.

The chord progression of Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place” is unique and complex, which contributes to the dreamy, atmospheric, and rich harmonic content prevalent in the song. Its ambiguous key center and shifting tonal centers create a sense of fluidity and unpredictability, commonly observed in Radiohead’s style. The chorus features a blend of diatonic and borrowed chords from parallel keys, which creates a colorful, almost impressionist quality to the progression.

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‘Set Fire to the Rain’ is written in the key of D minor. The main course of progression uses the chords of Dm, B-flat Major, F Major and C Major. This is a 6-4-1-5 progression, which is very popular and is used in a lot of pop music.

What makes this progression interesting is that Adele uses the 2nd inversion of the A minor chord, Am/B, and G/A, which gives it a unique timbre. `Am/B` is the 2nd inversion of the `Am` chord and `G/A` is the 2nd inversion of the `G` chord.

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“Let It Be” is one of The Beatles’ most popular songs and features a primarily major tonality (C Major), giving it its iconic uplifting and inspiring quality. The song’s chord progression is quite standard in terms of pop/rock music, yet it does include some interesting elements like inversions and a 7th chord to add variety and emotional depth.

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Taylor Swift – Me – Chorus

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Chord Progression

C, Am, F, G, G7

Chord Progression Analysis

The chord progression used in the chorus of “ME!” remains faithful to the key of C major and consists of the following chords:

“`
C Major (I)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
G Major (V)
G7 (V7)
“`

This progression is entirely diatonic to the key of C major, containing no borrowed chords. It cycles through a basic but effective I-vi-IV-V pattern, a staple in pop music, which is rounded off with the addition of a G7 chord to add a slight tension before resolving back to the tonic.

Similar Chord Progressions

The I-vi-IV-V progression is immensely popular in various music genres, particularly in pop and rock, due to its harmonic fullness and versatility. Here are similar progressions in other well-known songs:

The Beatles – “Let It Be”
“`
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
“`

Maroon 5 – “She Will Be Loved”
“`
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
“`

Bob Marley – “No Woman, No Cry”
“`
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
“`

These songs demonstrate the universal appeal of the I-vi-IV-V progression, each employing it in a way that supports their unique stylistic and thematic content. In “ME!”, Taylor Swift adds her personal touch with upbeat, cheerful instrumentation and production choices that emphasize the song’s playful and empowering message.

Musical Analysis

The use of the I-vi-IV-V pattern in “ME!” is classic and straightforward, providing a solid, uplifting foundation that complements the song’s upbeat lyrics and melodies. The progression is inherently pleasing and easy to listen to, making it highly suitable for a pop anthem that celebrates individuality and fun.

The addition of the G7 chord at the end of the cycle introduces a touch of dissonance, enhancing the resolution back to the tonic C Major. This use of a dominant seventh chord heightens anticipation and keeps the listener engaged, adding a dynamic element to the otherwise predictable pattern.

Overall Analysis

The chorus of Taylor Swift’s song “ME!” employs a bright and catchy chord progression that’s emblematic of pop music’s joyful and exuberant character. This progression underpins the song’s themes of self-affirmation and positivity, making it an infectious and memorable part of the track.

Style Analysis

Taylor Swift’s “ME!” is a quintessential pop track, utilizing bright, major chords and rhythmic, sing-along melodies that align with the genre’s appeal to broad audiences. The straightforward chord progression underscores Swift’s ability to craft songs that are both catchy and emotionally resonant, maintaining simplicity in structure to ensure the focus remains on the lyrics and melodic hooks.

Chords in the Chorus section of ME! by Taylor Swift are:

C, Am, F, G, G7