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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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Vance Joy’s “Riptide” is a folk-pop song that presents a unique coupling of simplicity and depth on the musical landscape. The chord progression, in particular the pre-chorus, is relatively straightforward, but it introduces a flavor of complexity thanks to the inclusion of the borrowed chord. The song operates primarily within the key of C major, and maintains a predominantly folk-like, easy listening aesthetic throughout. Its chord progression, while simple, is nonetheless powerful in conveying the song’s desired emotional ambiance.

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“Riptide,” by Vance Joy has a classic, highly repetitive chord progression that creates the folk/pop character of the song. It is written in the key of C Major and uses the simplified I-IV-vi progression, which is also widely used in pop music. In addition, it has a common modulated transition via V chord (G) to the vi chord (Am). There are no borrowed chords in this progression. This repetitive structure can be appealing due to its simplicity and familiarity.

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“Knights of Cydonia” by Muse features a harmonically straightforward chord progression within the rock style. This progression is primarily based in the key of E minor and centers around the Em, Bm, and A chords. Throughout the song, the driving rhythm, vocal melodies, and transitions between different sections contribute to its energetic and dramatic qualities.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Endlessly” by Muse is an interesting mix of chords from related keys and chromatic alterations. The overall key of the piece is D minor, but there are some unexpected twists and turns that keep the harmonic journey unique and engaging.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Ramona” by Beck is an interesting mix of diatonic and borrowed chords that creates a unique and somewhat unexpected harmonic landscape. It combines major and minor chords, borrowed chords from the parallel minor key, and chromatic chords, making a rich harmonic texture.

Vance Joy – Riptide – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The repetitive chorus (and the majority of the song, in fact) revolves around an A minor-G Major-C Major progression. In the key of C Major, these chords have the following Roman numerals:

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A minor (vi), G Major (V), C Major (I)
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The song does not feature any borrowed chords. Borrowed chords come from a key’s parallel minor or major, and all chords used in “Riptide” are diatonic to the key of C Major.

Similar Chord Progressions

One of the things that makes the three-chord song so profoundly popular is the sheer number of different songs that can be produced from the same simple materials. I-vi-IV progression is one of the most common in pop music. Some examples are:

– “Let It Be” by The Beatles: `C Major (I), G Major (V), A minor (vi), F Major (IV)`
– “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley: `C Major (I), G Major (V), A minor (vi), F Major (IV)`
– “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars: `D minor (vi), G Major (V), C Major (I)`.

While the songs above have similar sequences, none of them is an exact match for “Riptide” because the song’s progression is notable for its specific pattern and its minor-major juxtaposition.

Musical Analysis

“Riptide”, like many pop songs, uses a three-chord structure, and what makes it interesting is its simplicity and the techniques used to create variation within it. The only gently nuanced part comes in the bridge, where Vance Joy introduces an Fmaj7 chord which creates tension that resolves back into the main progression. This usage of a non-diatonic chord gives a clever twist to the otherwise straightforward progression.

Overall Analysis

Vance Joy’s “Riptide” is a remarkably simple yet highly effective song written in the key of C Major. The song follows a repetitive I-vi-IV chord progression, which is only varied in the bridge where a minor seventh chord introduces tension before leading back to the song’s major tonality.

Style Analysis

In terms of style, “Riptide” stands out for its catchy ukulele-driven sound and its repetition of the three-chord progression with minimal variation, a common trait in most pop music. Its emotional content derives from the stark switch between the major and minor chords. This lends the song both a happy, upbeat feel from the major chords and an underpinning of melancholy from the minor ones.

Chords in the Chorus section of Riptide by Vance Joy are:

[‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘C’]