Rock · 1991 · intermediate

Alive

by Pearl Jam
Key of Em intermediate 4 chords

Roman Numeral Analysis

iVIIIIVII
EmCGD
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\u00B10
BPM 100
Key
Em
Chords
4
Genre
Rock
Year
1991

Alive Chord Progression Breakdown

Alive (1991) is a intermediate rock song that uses the progression i – VI – III – VII (Em, C, G, D in Em).

Analysis

  • i (Em) \u2014 Minor chord, darker emotional quality
  • VI (C) \u2014 Borrowed chord from parallel key
  • III (G) \u2014 Tonic chord, harmonic home
  • VII (D) \u2014 Borrowed chord from parallel key

Tags

rock1990sgrunge

Knowledge Base & FAQs

Alive by Pearl Jam — FAQ

Everything you need to know about our browser-based Web Audio engine, instruments, and music theory workspace.

What is the chord progression for Alive?

Alive by Pearl Jam uses the chords Em, C, G, D in the key of Em.

The Roman numeral analysis is i – VI – III – VII.

What key is Alive in?

Alive by Pearl Jam is in the key of Em.

The primary chords are Em, C, G.

Is Alive beginner-friendly?

Alive is rated intermediate.

Some barre chords or faster changes may be involved.

What genre is Alive?

Alive is a rock song from 1991.

Its progression reflects the harmonic conventions of rock music.

Can I transpose Alive to another key?

Yes! Click the transpose buttons on the detail page to shift all chords up or down by semitone while preserving the same Roman numeral relationships.