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The interlude piece from Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” features an eight-chord progression in the key of C major, with prevalent use of Roman numeral notation and borrowed chords from parallel minor scales. This progression is typical in rock and pop music, representing Weezer’s alternative rock style.

The pre-chorus of Weezer’s “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To (I Want You To)” features a simple yet effective chord progression primarily centered around the D major chord. The piece overall follows a pop-rock, alternative musical style consistent with the typical sound of Weezer.

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney. The song is primarily in the key of D Major and exhibits a mix of major, minor, and dominant seventh chords. This verse progression manifests the distinctive Beatles’ sound which often includes chromaticism and prevalence of secondary dominants that link the chords together, giving a smooth flow and color to the harmonic progression.

“California Kids” by Weezer is a pop rock song with influences from alternative and power pop. The chord progression in Verse 2 shows a blend of diatonic and borrowed chords, which contributes to a slight sense of tension and resolution throughout the progression. The chords in the verse also exhibit movement by step (C to C/B) and a mixture of major and minor tonalities.

“Hallelujah” is a song by singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley and is a cover of a song originally written by Leonard Cohen. The song is in the key of C major and features a moderate tempo with a 6/8 time signature. This particular chord progression, taken from the second verse, consists mainly of diatonic chords found within the key, but also includes a few borrowed chords and a secondary dominant, giving the song a sense of tension and release.

Weezer – Say It Aint So – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C

Chord Progression Analysis

A minor (i) – E Major (V) – F Major (bVI) – C Major (III)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Creep” by Radiohead

G Major (I) – B Major (III) – C Major (IV) – C minor (iv)

2. “Zombie” by The Cranberries

E minor (i) – C Major (VI) – G Major (III) – D Major (VII)

Musical Analysis

The verse chord progression cycles through the pattern above three times. The first chord progression in the verse is a common i-V progression in a minor key, adding tension to the music. The F Major and C Major chords that follow add a bit of color and surprise, as they are borrowed chords from the parallel major (A Major) and the relative major (C Major), respectively, creating a chromatic, non-diatonic progression. These borrowed chords give a feeling of yearning and unresolved tension, which contributes to the melancholy feel of the verse.

Overall Analysis

“Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer is an alternative rock song with a sense of melancholy in the verse and a catchy, anthemic chorus. The verse chords, which you provided, create a strong sense of movement and harmonic interest by using borrowed chords and a combination of diatonic and chromatic chord progressions.

Style Analysis

As mentioned before, “Say It Ain’t So” is an alternative rock song that heavily features distorted guitars and powerful drumming. The combination of diatonic and non-diatonic chord progressions, along with the use of borrowed chords, contributes to the unique sound of the song and sets it apart from typical pop and rock songs. The melancholic tone of the verses contrasts with the more uplifting and anthemic choruses, creating a dynamic and engaging listening experience.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Say It Aint So by Weezer are:

Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C, Am, E, F, C