Key: C

Intro

  I
| - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - |

The first two bars only have the root and fifth. Then the third is introduced in the third bar. There is also a little 4-5 hammer-on bit that happens at the end of every second measure.

Verse

  I         V9  I     Imaj7(6)  ii(6)
| - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - |

  iii       ii        V   IV    V   Vadd6 V7
| - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - |

The voicings and parallel movement of chords are important to the feel of this song. These are the guitar chords:

 

Here is a full transcription of the second half of the first verse: Fleet Foxes – Montezuma Verse.

It sounds like the guitar voicings and vocal harmonies stay the same throughout the song, so I didn’t bother transcribing any of the other verses. The vocal melody does change slightly from verse to verse, but it maintains the same pentatonic structure and overall contour.

Chorus

  IV                  V   Vadd6 V7
| - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | x2

The IV is embellished with a descending bassline

Bridge

  V     IV                  V   IV    V   IV 
| - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - |

  V  
| - - - - | - - - - | - - - - | - - - - |

Distinctive Features

• Primarily pentatonic vocal melody, reminiscent of early american folk
• Parallel motion in the guitar and vocal harmonies, rather than counterpoint, also lends to the early folk quality
• The use of perfect intervals and parallel fifths in the vocals at the beginnings and ends of phrases in the verse imparts a vaguely medieval feel.