How the Use of Atonal Harmonies Help Make the Classic Jethro Tull Song ‘Aqualung’ So Powerful

Lori Dorn
January 4, 2019

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The amusingly doodling, rapidly talking and extremely knowledgeable music theorist 12Tone musically breaks down one of his favorite songs – “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull. In doing so, 12Tone points out how the use of atonality, specifically atonal harmonies, makes the song as powerful as it is .

..we’re looking at one of my favorite songs off probably my favorite album of all time! Jethro Tull’s biggest hit features incredibly complex musical ideas that it hides behind a veil of folky charm, telling a dark and powerful story both in its lyrics and in its composition. Borrowing influences from a wide range of musical styles, Aqualung ties everything together so well that you barely notice how much it’s actually doing.

Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.