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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The chord progression “[‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘D’]” from the outro of Weezer’s “The Good Life” is a simple, yet effective progression in the key of E minor. It demonstrates a melancholic feel common to alternative rock and power-pop music genres of the 1990s. The chords in this progression are borrowed from the E natural minor scale.

“My Name Is Jonas” by Weezer is an alternative rock song with a memorable guitar riff and chord progression. The song features a dynamic structure with a mix of different sections, including the refrain, which we will analyze here. Written in the key of G major, the chord progression presents a mixture of chords from both the major and the minor modes, giving it an interesting and varied sound.

The chorus of “Right Where It Belongs” by Nine Inch Nails is built upon a repeating four-chord progression of Gm-Bb-F-C. This song is in the key of Bb major (with two flats in the key signature, Bb and Eb). All the chords used in this song are derived from the Bb major scale, which makes this a diatonic chord progression. There is no borrowed or chromatic harmony in this song.

The song “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles is cheerful and upbeat, with accessible melodies that catch the audience’s attention immediately. The rhythm is contagious and gives a happy atmosphere to the whole song. It is a perfect example of the early influences of rock ‘n’ roll on The Beatles, with a chord progression that is quite common in pop/rock music but showcases The Beatles’ ability to create fresh and unique melodic ideas.

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.

Weezer – The Good Life – Chorus

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Chord Progression

B7, C, D, G, Em, Em, Am, D, D, G, Em, Em, Am, D, D, G, Em, Em, Am, D, D, G, Em

Chord Progression Analysis

B7 (V7/iii), C (IV), D (V), G (I), Em (vi), Em (vi), Am (ii), D (V), D (V), G (I), Em (vi), Em (vi), Am (ii), D (V), D (V), G (I), Em (vi), Em (vi), Am (ii), D (V), D (V), G (I), Em (vi)

Borrowed Chord:
`B7 (V7/iii)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep”
Chorus: G (I), B7 (V7/iii), C (IV), Cm (iv)

2. Coldplay – “The Scientist”
Verse: Dm (ii), B♭ (IV), F (I), C (V)

Both examples showcase the use of chromatic chords and unconventional progressions, similar to Weezer’s “The Good Life” chorus. In “Creep,” the B7 is a borrowed chord (V7/iii) as well, while in “The Scientist,” the progression features a (ii-IV-I-V) pattern, which isn’t as common in popular music.

Musical Analysis

In this chorus, the predominant key is G major, with most chords belonging to the diatonic set. However, the B7 chord, the dominant seventh of E minor, is borrowed from the parallel minor key (G minor), which adds a chromatic element to the progression.

The song follows a common pattern in popular rock music; the chords mostly move by fourths (roots of the chords being a fourth apart). This pattern can be seen in multiple instances within the progression, such as D-G, G-Em, Am-D, and D-G.

Overall Analysis

The chorus of “The Good Life” by Weezer features a mixture of diatonic and non-diatonic chords, with a primary focus on the key of G major. The chord progression stands out as somewhat unconventional due to the inclusion of chromatic chords, which gives it an interesting character and emotion. Additionally, the repetition of certain chords emphasizes the harmonic structure and creates a sense of familiarity.

Style Analysis

Weezer is known for incorporating unconventional elements in their music and shifting from diatonic to non-diatonic chords. Their use of relatively simple chord progressions, combined with borrowed chords or chords from other keys, is a trademark, as seen in “The Good Life.” Furthermore, the band often employs repetition to create a sense of coherence, which is visible in the chorus of this song.

Chords in the Chorus section of The Good Life by Weezer are:

B7, C, D, G, Em, Em, Am, D, D, G, Em, Em, Am, D, D, G, Em, Em, Am, D, D, G, Em