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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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The given chord progression is from the verse 3 of the song “The Good Life” by Weezer. The song is in the key of G major and features a mix of diatonic chords from the G major scale and a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (G minor).

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C Major (I)

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C Major – This chord functions as the tonic chord (I) in the key of C Major.
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Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a chorus that uses a sophisticated and intricate chord progression to drive the emotional depth and thematic elements of the song. This progression combines inversions and extensions to create a layered and textured musical atmosphere, reflecting the complexity of the song’s lyrics and enhancing its reflective nature.

The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” presents an interesting mix of major and minor chords with excellent use of chord inversions and borrowings. The song is harmonically adventurous, showcasing the band’s pop mastery with Brian Wilson’s unmatched compositional skills. This song is primarily in the key of A Major, with many borrowed chords and modulation that creates its unique feel.

“I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues” is a well-known hit by Elton John from the album “Too Low for Zero” released in 1983. The song is a blend of pop, rock and blues styles and showcases Elton John’s proficiency in blending different music genres. The verse uses a straightforward I-V-vi-IV progression which is a common progression in pop music.

The Chorus’s

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