Wake Me Up When September Ends artwork

Wake Me Up When September Ends

Green Day

KeyG major
Tempo105 BPM
Duration4:45

Rhodes melody, piano & acoustic guitar.

Song map

INTROClick a line to play from there
SONG NOTES

Questions about this song

Answers from our automatic transcription. Key, tempo and chord labels may contain errors.

What key is Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day in?

This transcription starts in G major.

What tempo is Wake Me Up When September Ends?

The estimated tempo is 105 BPM, calculated from the median spacing between detected beats. This is a summary of the transcription; timing can vary during the song.

What are the main chord progressions in Wake Me Up When September Ends?

Recurring four-chord sequences in this transcription include Em7 → Gmaj/5 → C → Cm (7 occurrences); Gmaj/5 → C → Cm → G (7 occurrences); Gmaj7/7 → Em7 → Gmaj/5 → C (5 occurrences). These are exact chord-label matches within sections, not a complete harmonic analysis.

What are the relative chords in Wake Me Up When September Ends?

Here are a few patterns to play with: vi7 → I/5 → IV → iv in G major; I/5 → IV → iv → I in G major; I → Imaj7/7 → vi7 → I/5 in G major. Think of Roman numerals as chord names you can take into any key. Uppercase is major, lowercase is minor; in minor keys, we count from the natural-minor scale.

Does Wake Me Up When September Ends use a well-known chord progression?

Yes! In G major: The doo-wop progression (IV → V → I → vi) shows up in the verse at 0:59 and the chorus at 2:26. That old-school slow-dance sound, with a gentle detour through minor before heading home. The hopscotch progression (V → vi → I → IV) shows up in the verse at 0:11 and 0:30. Three rising chord roots give this loop a lift before it hops back around. The plagal sigh (IV → iv → I) shows up in the verse at 0:18 and 0:36. One note sinks as IV turns minor, giving the return home its little ache.

What time signature is Wake Me Up When September Ends in?

The song starts in 4/4, with a short partial bar at the beginning.

How is Wake Me Up When September Ends structured?

The detected sections are intro (0:00) → verse (0:09) → interlude (1:22) → verse (1:36) → chorus (2:12) → interlude (2:49) → verse (3:23) → chorus (3:51) → outro (4:16).

How long is this version of Wake Me Up When September Ends?

The transcribed version lasts 4:45. Other recordings or edits may have a different duration.

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