Under the Milky Way
by The Church
Difficulty Profile
Skill LevelOverall
IntermediateRhythm
IntermediateLead
IntermediateBass
BeginnerWhy "Under the Milky Way" Works Harmonically
Beyond standard guitar tabs and chord charts, discover the exact music theory mechanics, modal interchange, and voice leading choices that give The Church's classic its unforgettable emotional power.
12-String Open Treble Drones & Stepwise Aeolian Minor-Dominant Descent
Steve Kilbey and Marty Willson-Piper craft a weightless, stargazing atmosphere by letting the open B and high E strings ring across every chord in A minor. Instead of using a harsh E7 major dominant in the chorus ("Wish I knew what you were looking for"), the progression floats down the natural minor scale—G to Fmaj7 to Em7 (♭VII - ♭VImaj7 - v7)—preserving a cool, nocturnal mystery that never fully resolves.
Harmonic Progression (Roman Numerals)
i7 - ♭VImaj7 - ♭VII6 - v7Step-by-Step Movement
- •Am7 (i7): Minor tonic softened by open G and E strings for an airy, floating center.
- •Fmaj7 (♭VImaj7): Submediant major-7th chord containing the entire A minor triad (A-C-E) over an F bass.
- •G6 (♭VII6): Subtonic chord with open B and high E strings adding a 6th (E) extension.
- •Em7 (v7): Modal minor dominant that gently cycles back to Am7 without a leading-tone snap.
Voice Leading & Counterpoint
- ›The open high E string (the 5th of Am, major 7th of F, 6th of G, and root of Em) acts as an unbroken silver thread tying all four chords together.
- ›In the chorus (G - Fmaj7 - Em7 - Am7), the bass walks smoothly down the A Aeolian scale: G → F → E → A.
- ›Keeping the v chord minor (Em7 instead of E7) avoids the G# leading tone, giving the chorus its wistful, searching character.
Fretboard Mechanics
Arch your fretting fingers carefully on Fmaj7 (1-3-3-2-1-0 or X-3-3-2-1-0) and G6 (3-2-0-0-0-0) so the open high E string chimes continuously like a 12-string acoustic.
When writing in A minor, leave the high E string open on every chord (Am7, Fmaj7, G6, Em7) and use the minor v7 instead of E7 to create a dreamy, cinematic soundscape.
Musical Analysis
🎹 Key & Tonality
⏱️ Song Structure
💡 Understanding A minor:
A minor has a darker, more introspective character. The Atmospheric, nocturnal A Aeolian dream-pop enriched with open-string 9th, maj7, and 6th extensions that blur chord boundaries mode creates tension and emotion. This key is perfect for expressing melancholy or aggressive themes in rock music.
Underpins the hypnotic verse oscillation (Am - Fmaj7 - G) and chorus cadences
Injected whenever the progression introduces D9/F# and G6/9 extensions for nocturnal jangle-pop shimmer
The harmonic character shaping A minor
Understand minor chord construction and voicings
Primary Chords Used
Scale Patterns in A minor
A natural minor
Notes: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
Application: Underpins the hypnotic verse oscillation (Am - Fmaj7 - G) and chorus cadences
Interactive Fretboard Map
Chord Progressions & Movement
Main Progression
Steve Kilbey and Marty Willson-Piper's hypnotic 12-string acoustic tapestry where open high E and B strings ring through shifting bass notes and interior voices.
💡 Theory Insight:
These borrowed chords from the parallel minor key add darker, more dramatic colors to the progression. This modal interchange gives rock and metal its signature swagger.
Chord Shapes In This Section:
Am7
Fmaj7
G6
Em7
Harmonic Functions & Roles:
- Am7 (i7)Minor tonic softened by the open G and E strings for a dreamy, floating center
- Fmaj7 (bVImaj7)Lush submediant major-7th chord sharing the A, C, and E triad of Am
- G6 (bVII6)Subtonic chord with open B and E strings creating a suspended, weightless lift
- Em7 (v7)Minor dominant chord preserving the cool, understated Aeolian mood without a harsh G# leading tone
Key Techniques
12-String Style Open-Drone Strumming & Arpeggiated Extensions
IntermediateWeaving picked bass notes with shimmering upper-string strums so the open B and high E strings act as a continuous harmonic halo across every chord change
Uses chords:
Progression:
Am7 - Fmaj7 - G6 - Em7
Technique Tips:
- •Arch your fretting fingers steeply on Fmaj7 (X-3-3-2-1-0) so the open high E string rings clearly
- •Use a thin-to-medium pick (0.60mm) to get a feathery, percussive 12-string brush on a 6-string guitar
- •Engage a subtle chorus pedal or 12-string simulator if playing on a standard 6-string
Practice Exercises
Scale and technique exercises in the key of A minor. Switch instrument sounds (Acoustic Steel, Nylon, Clean Electric, Piano) and practice at your own tempo.
Intro & Verse Shimmer
Verse Open-String Voicings
Hypnotic nocturnal progression floating through Am7, Fmaj7, G6, and Em7 with ringing open treble strings.
- •Let the open high E string ring continuously across all four chords
- •Keep your strumming hand flowing in a relaxed 126 BPM 16th-note wave
- •Emphasize the dreamy major-7th color of Fmaj7
Chorus ('Wish I Knew')
Chorus Descending Walkdown
The chorus descends stepwise down the A natural minor scale (G - Fmaj7 - Em7) before settling back into Am7.
- •Highlight the descending bass notes: G (3rd fret) → F (1st fret) → E (open) → A (open)
- •Notice how resolving Em7 to Am7 creates a wistful, unresolved pull
- •Repeat the four-chord cycle twice per chorus
Scale Practice Exercise
Ambient Legato Solo Line
Legato single-note melody on the G and B strings capturing the ambient, bagpipe-like solo section.
- •Use slides and hammer-ons along the 2nd and 3rd strings to mimic infinite sustain
- •Emphasize the 9th (B) and 4th (D) scale degrees over the A minor drone
- •Add wide, slow vibrato on the long notes
Equipment & Tone Setup
🎸 Guitar
Recommended Model:
Pickup Type:
Acoustic piezo blended with condenser mic, plus neck humbucker/EBow for lead
⚡ Amplifier & Settings
Recommended Amp:
Tone Stack Dial-In:
Gain: 3 (crystalline clean headroom)
Treble: 7 (sparkling 12-string overtones)
Middle: 5 (smooth, uncrowded midrange)
Bass: 5 (warm acoustic body)
Presence: 7 (expansive stargazing shimmer)
Alternative Amps:
🎛️ Effects Pedals
Overdrive / Distortion:
Smooth sustain compression/overdrive for the solo
Reverb / Delay:
Deep cathedral/hall reverb
Modulation / Other:
EBow (Electronic Bow) for the solo section and lush stereo chorus
Recommended Learning Path
Open-Position Extended Chords
⏱️ 1-2 weeks
- •Learn the open Am7 (X-0-2-0-1-0), Fmaj7 (X-X-3-2-1-0), G6 (3-2-0-0-0-0), and Em7 (0-2-2-0-3-0) shapes
- •Practice keeping the high E string ringing clearly on every chord
- •Play the chorus walkdown (G - Fmaj7 - Em7 - Am7) at 100 BPM
- •Strum through the full song at 126 BPM
Thumb-Wrapped Fmaj7 & 16th-Note Brush
⏱️ 2-3 weeks
- •Add the low F bass note on the 6th string 1st fret for a full 6-string Fmaj7 (1-3-3-2-1-0)
- •Integrate picked bass notes on beat 1 with 16th-note treble strumming
- •Explore high-neck drone voicings like Amadd9 (X-0-7-5-0-0)
12-String Texture & Legato Solo
⏱️ 3-5 weeks
- •Weave Peter Koppes's electric arpeggio counter-lines around the acoustic rhythm
- •Perform the ambient solo using legato slides or an EBow
- •Control dynamics from the hushed opening verse to the cinematic bridge peak
Practice Notes & Routine
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Accidentally muting the open high E string with the side of your index finger on Fmaj7
- •Playing a standard E major (E7) in the chorus instead of the cooler, modal Em7
- •Strumming too aggressively with a heavy pick and losing the delicate 12-string chime
⏱️Targeted Practice Routine
0/4 Completed (0%)Check off each segment during your session to track your practice progress:
- 3 minutes: Am7 → Fmaj7 → G6 open-string clarity check (pluck each string individually)
- 5 minutes: Chorus G → Fmaj7 → Em7 → Am7 descending bass walkdown
- 4 minutes: Legato solo melody on strings 2 and 3
- 5 minutes: Full song playthrough at 126 BPM
🎯 Key Focus Areas
- •Uninterrupted open-string drone across chord changes
- •Feathery, articulate 16th-note strumming touch
- •Modal Aeolian v7 to i7 chorus resolution
⏱️ Metronome Drills
- •Practice at 100 BPM focusing on fluid 16th-note wrist motion
- •Increase to 115 BPM while maintaining bass-note accuracy
- •Play at album tempo of 126 BPM with effortless dynamic flow