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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Buddy Holly” is a song by Weezer with an upbeat, pop-rock feel. It exists in the key of A major and showcases a recurring chord progression in its verse consisting of F#m, E/G#, and A.

The chord progression in the chorus of Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” is in the key of A major and has a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords. Overall, it has a distinct and memorable pop-rock feel, with a strong hook and melodic quality. Through its use of secondary dominants, the progression creates tension and release, pushing the harmony forward in a compelling manner.

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 in “Ramona” by Beck is a blend of diatonic and chromatic harmony with some borrowed chords from outside the key. The piece is in the key of G major, and it features several instances of voice leading, smooth transitions between chords, and the occasional unexpected chord that adds interest and depth to the progression.

The chord progression in Radiohead’s “You And Whose Army” showcases the band’s unique style of blending chord progressions from different key centers, as well as their tendency to use borrowed chords. The progression consists largely of diatonic chords from the key of C# minor, but also features a few borrowed chords from D# minor and the parallel major key, C# Major.

Weezer – Buddy Holly – Verse

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Chord Progression

F#m, E/G#, A, A, F#m, F#m, E/G#, A

Chord Progression Analysis

F#m (vi)
E/G# (V6/3)
A (I)
A (I)
F#m (vi)
F#m (vi)
E/G# (V6/3)
A (I)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Blink-182 – “All the Small Things”
Verse: C (I) G (V) F (IV) G (V)

2. Green Day – “When I Come Around”
Verse: G (I) D (V) E♭ (♭III) C (IV)

These songs also demonstrate the use of simple, diatonic chord progressions, with slight variations between them for unique flavors. This type of progression is found in many pop, rock, and alternative songs as it provides a solid foundation to build melodies and create memorable hooks.

Musical Analysis

The verse of “Buddy Holly” has a simple and straightforward chord progression, revolving around the I-vi-V progression, a common progression in pop and rock music. Beginning with the F#m chord, it establishes a minor feel that is quickly resolved to the major key of A by the E/G# and A chords, with the E/G# acting as the V6/3 chord, leading to the tonic chord A. The use of E/G# in a first inversion (notated as V6/3) adds extra tension and creates smooth voice leading. This pattern is repeated twice, creating a sense of familiarity and consistency within the verse.

Overall Analysis

“Buddy Holly” by Weezer is a power-pop/alternative rock song from their debut studio album “Weezer” (also known as the Blue Album) released in 1994. The verse chord progression features diatonic chords from the A major key, along with some inversions and techniques borrowed from other musical styles such as blues and rock.

Style Analysis

“Buddy Holly” is characterized by its catchy melodies and power-pop sound, with heavy guitar riffs, strong basslines and straightforward drum patterns. The use of inversions and root-position chords adds harmonic interest to the simple chord progression, while the steady rhythm, melody, and song structure make it accessible and memorable.

Chords in the Verse section of Buddy Holly by Weezer are:

F#m, E/G#, A, A, F#m, F#m, E/G#, A