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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.

“Undone – The Sweater Song” by Weezer is a grunge rock song from their debut album, “Weezer (The Blue Album)” released in 1994. The chord progression in Verse 2 seems to blend elements from both pop and rock genres, with some diatonic chords and a borrowed chord that adds an unexpected twist.

“Lord Only Knows” by Beck is a blend of folk and country with a touch of alternative rock. The song features an interesting chord progression, especially in Verse 3, which includes a mixture of major and minor chords as well as a few borrowed chords.

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a well-known folk song that has been adapted into a blues ballad with a haunting quality. The verse chord progression features a combination of minor and major chords that contribute to its emotional intensity, while also creating a sense of tension and resolution.

“Kiss” by Prince is primarily a rock song that features pop elements. The song utilizes power chords which are common in rock music, having a stripped-down chord structure that highlights the root and the fifth notes of the chord. The defined chord progression listed for Verse 3 is: [‘A5’, ‘D5’, ‘A5’]. This progression lacks the richness of Major or Minor chords but provides a solid, driving rhythm backbone to the song, prioritizing rhythmic energy over harmonic complexity.

Weezer – The Good Life – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, B7

Chord Progression Analysis

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G major (I) – D major (V) – A minor (ii) – E major (V/vi) – G major (I) – D major (V) – A minor (ii) – E major (V/vi) – G major (I) – D major (V) – A minor (ii) – E major (V/vi) – G major (I) – D major (V) – A minor (ii) – E major (V/vi) – G major (I) – D major (V) – A minor (ii) – B7 (V/vi°)

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E major (V/vi) is borrowed from the parallel minor (G minor)
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Similar Chord Progressions

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1. Radiohead – “Creep”:
G major (I) – B major (V/vi) – C major (IV) – C minor (iv)

2. Oasis – “Wonderwall”:
C major (IV) – E major (V/vi) – A minor (ii) – G major (I) – D major (V) – E major (V/vi) – F# minor (iii) – D major (V)

3. The Beatles – “Something”:
C major (I) – C major 7 (I7) – C7 (I7) – F major (IV) – E major (V/vi) – A minor (vi) – A minor 7 (vi7) – D7 (V7)

All three songs feature similar elements like borrowed chords (E major as V/vi) or the use of diatonic chords in their progressions.

Musical Analysis

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The progression uses a combination of diatonic chords and a borrowed chord to create a sense of tension and resolution. The E major chord (V/vi) is borrowed from the parallel minor key (G minor) and serves as a secondary dominant, intensifying the resolution to the following G major chord (I). The E major chord can also be seen as a chromatic mediant relationship with the A minor (ii) chord, adding more color and interest to the progression. The D major (V) and A minor (ii) chords provide a sense of stability in the progression, anchoring it in the key of G major.

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Overall Analysis

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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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Style Analysis

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The song “The Good Life” by Weezer is part of their alternative rock style, which is known for its power chords and catchy melodies. The chord progression features a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, contributing to a rich and engaging harmonic landscape. This use of borrowed chords and secondary dominants is common in various genres like rock, pop, and jazz, giving music a sense of tension, surprise, and depth.

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Chords in the Verse 3 section of The Good Life by Weezer are:

G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, E, G, D, Am, B7