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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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.

“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.

“Think I’m In Love” by Beck is a pop-infused indie rock piece that features an easy-going, catchy melody and a simple yet effective chord progression. The use of repetitive chords throughout the Outro creates a sense of stability and familiarity. The Outro builds upon the tonal center of F Major established earlier in the song and prolongs the tonic, adding to the song’s overall sense of closure and resolution.

The outro of “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix uses a descending circle of fifths chord progression, which is a very common progression in many styles of music, particularly in the Baroque period and in blues-based rock music. The progression features a steady descent through the Circle of Fifths that creates a strong sense of harmony and resolution. In this context, Jimi Hendrix uses the progression to create tension and momentum, which is appropriate for an outro section.

The song “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails has a tonal center around the key of B minor, as it is the most prominently featured chord in both the verse and chorus sections. The verse features a simple three-chord progression (Bm-D-E), and the chorus introduces additional chords (G, A). The outro mainly repeats the chords from the verse. The style of the piece can be characterized as haunting, melancholic, and somewhat minimalistic with only a few chords creating the harmonic landscape.

Weezer – Undone The Sweater Song – Outro

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Chord Progression

G5, C, D, C, Bb, G5, C, D, C, Bb, G5, C, D, C, Bb, G5, C, D, C

Chord Progression Analysis

– G5 (I5)
– C (IV)
– D (V)
– C (IV)
– B♭ (‘♭III’ – borrowed chord from G minor)
– G5-C-D-C-B♭ (repeat)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep”:
– G (I)
– B (III)
– C (IV)
– Cm (‘iv’ – borrowed chord from G minor)

2. The Beatles – “Let It Be”:
– C (I)
– G (V)
– A♭ (‘♭VI’ – borrowed chord from C minor)
– F (IV)

3. Oasis – “Wonderwall”:
– Em (ii)
– G (I)
– D (V)
– A (IV)
– C (‘♭VII’ – borrowed chord from E minor)

These three examples showcase a similar approach to using borrowed chords, providing a mix of diatonic and non-diatonic chords to create tension, color, and harmonic interest in their respective songs.

Musical Analysis

The progression starts with a G5 power chord (I5) that sets the tonal center of G major. This is followed by C major (IV) and D major (V), both diatonic chords in the key of G. The repetition of IV (C) and the use of a borrowed chord, B♭ major (♭III), from the parallel key of G minor add tension and variety to the progression. The outro alternates between these five chords, providing a sense of familiarity and unity, while still including enough variation to keep the listener engaged.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in the outro of Weezer’s “Undone – The Sweater Song” follows a repeating pattern with a combination of major and power chords. The overall key of the progression is G major, and the chords follow a predictable pattern that is rooted in rock and alternative music styles. The chord progression uses borrowed chords from the parallel key of G minor, specifically the B♭ major chord.

Style Analysis

The usage of power chords (G5) is very common in both rock and alternative styles. Bands like Weezer frequently utilize this technique to achieve a fuller guitar sound with an increased emphasis on the sonic texture. This chord progression also highlights the influence of the I-IV-V progression, which is a common feature in popular music. The borrowed chord (♭III) adds a touch of modal mixture, which is also commonly found in various genres in popular music.

Chords in the Outro section of Undone The Sweater Song by Weezer are:

G5, C, D, C, Bb, G5, C, D, C, Bb, G5, C, D, C, Bb, G5, C, D, C