1) Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive,” intro
From Love Tracks (1978), words and music by Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren
3) Miley Cyrus, “Flowers,” verse
From Endless Summer Vacation (2023), words and music by Miley Ray Cyrus, Michael Pollack, and Gregory Hein
8) Train, “Drive By,” bridge
From California 37 (2012), written by Pat Monahan, Espen Lind & Amund Björklund
Audio: MP3
Em Am Dm G G/F
Please believe that when I leave
E Dm
There's nothing up my sleeve
G
But love for you and a little time to get my head together too
4) Oasis, “Don't Look Back In Anger,” chorus
From What's the Story Morning Glory? (1995), words and music by Noel Gallagher
6) Ben Folds, “The Luckiest,” chorus
From Rockin' the Suburbs (2001), written by Ben Folds
Audio: MP3
D A
That I am
Bm F#m
I am
G D A D A
I am the luckiest
7) Phil Collins, “I Can't Stop Loving You,” verse
From Testify (2002), written by Billy Nicholls
Audio: MP3
C G Am Em
So you're leaving in the morning on the early train
F G F G
I could say everything’s alright, and I could pretend and say goodbye
C G
Got your ticket, got your suitcase,
Am Em
got your leaving smile
F G
I could say that's the way it goes,
F G G#dim7
and I could pretend and you won't know
Am G
That I was lying...
I V vi iii
So you're leaving in the morning on the early train
IV V IV V
I could say everything’s alright, and I could pretend and say goodbye
I V
Got your ticket, got your suitcase,
vi iii
got your leaving smile
IV V
I could say that's the way it goes,
IV V viio7/vi
and I could pretend and you won't know
vi V
That I was lying...
8) Green Day, “Basket Case,” verse 1
From Dookie (1994), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool
Audio: MP3
D A
Do you have the time
Bm F#m
To listen to me whine
G D
About nothing and everything
A
All at once
D A
I am one of those
Bm F#m
Melodramatic fools
G D
Neurotic to the bone
A
No doubt about it
I V
Do you have the time
vi iii
To listen to me whine
IV I
About nothing and everything
V
All at once
I V
I am one of those
vi iii
Melodramatic fools
IV I
Neurotic to the bone
V
No doubt about it
9) Lenka, “Trouble is a Friend,” chorus
From Lenka (2008), written by Thomas “Tawgs” Salter & Lenka
Audio: MP3
C
He's there in the dark
G
He's there in my heart
Am
He waits in the wings
Em
He's gotta play a part
F
Trouble is a friend.
C G
Yeah, trouble is a friend of mine, oh ohh..
I
He's there in the dark
V
He's there in my heart
vi
He waits in the wings
iii
He's gotta play a part
IV
Trouble is a friend.
I V
Yeah, trouble is a friend of mine, oh ohh..
12) Juan Luis Guerra, “Bachata Rosa,” verse 1
From Bachata Rosa (1990), words and music by Juan Luis Guerra.
Audio: YouTube (0:14–0:31)
Note: The same progression repeats from 0:31–0:47.
G D/F# Em
Te regalo una rosa,
Bm C
la encontré en el camino
G
No se si esta desnuda
A7 D
o tiene un solo vestido, no lo se.
1) Jimi Hendrix, “Hey Joe,” verse 1
From Are You Experienced (1967), words and music by Billy Roberts
Audio: Youtube (0:24– 1:11)
C G D A E
Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
C G D A E
Hey Joe, I said where you goin’ with that gun in your hand,
C G
I’m goin’ down to shoot my old lady,
D A
You know I caught her messin’ ‘round
E
with another man, yeah.
C G
I’m goin’ down to shoot my old lady
D A
You know I caught her messin’ ‘round
E
with another man. Huh! And that ain’t too cool.
2) Richrd O'Brian, “Time Warp,” refrain
From the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Audio: Youtube (1:11–1:23)
3) Deep Purple, “Hush,” refrain
From Shades of Deep Purple (1968), written by Joe South
Youtube: (1:04–1:20)
1) Ok Go, “Here It Goes Again,” verse
From Oh No (2005), written by Damian Kulash
Audio: Youtube (0:18–0:32)
C G
It could be ten, but then again, I can't remember
Bb F
Half an hour since a quarter to four
C G
Throw on your clothes, the second side of Surfer Rosa
Bb F
And you leave me with my jaw on the floor Hey!
2) Phish, “Reba,” verse 1
From Lawn Boy (1990), written by Trey Anastasio
Audio: MP3
E♭ B♭
Reba sinka boulder in the water
E♭ B♭
Reba tiea cable to a tree
E♭ B♭ D♭
Reba stuck in a game of lipstick perfume flypaper
A♭ C♭ G♭ A
Reba pressa razor to a slide cross a needle
B♭
with a prune
6) Bruce Channel, “Hey! Baby,” chorus
From Hey! Baby (1962)
Audio: YouTube (0:14-0:41)
[Chorus]
A F#7 B7
Hey
E7 A F#7 B7
Hey baby,
E7 A F#7 B7
I wanna know
E7 A D A
If you'll be my girl
10) SZA (ft. Doja Cat), “Kill Bill,” chorus
From SOS (2022), written by SZA, Rob Bisel & Carter Lang
Audio: Youtube (0:32–0:55)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| E♭7 | E♭7/G | A♭∆7 | A♭∆7|
|F7 | F7 | B♭m9 | B♭m | (x2)
Note: The same progression repeats throughout the entire song.
B♭m E♭7 E♭7/G A♭∆ 7
I might kill my ex, not the best idea
F7 B♭m
His new girlfriend's next, how'd I get here?
E♭7 E♭7/G A♭∆ 7
I might kill my ex, I still love him, though
F7 B♭m9
Rather be in jail than alone
Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Sequences
Diverse Music Theory Examples: Diatonic Sequences, Chromatic Sequences
Music By Women: Explore the Database (Click on the Harmonic Progression Filter on the left and select Sequences.)
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Harmonic Progressions" tab at the bottom.