Music Theory Alchemy

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“Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails features a melancholic and introspective chord progression. The song is predominantly in the key of B minor. The verse and outro sections revolve around the Bm, D, and E chords, while the chorus uses a progression of Bm, G, D, A. The use of borrowed chords enriches the harmonic landscape, adding depth to the composition.

“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls is well-known for its unique tuning and chords which adds a certain tenderness and emotional depth to the song. The song is in D Major and utilizes a repeated chord progression that is relatively simple but effective.

“Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You” by George Benson is a romantic ballad in the key of Db major. The piece features a soothing and harmonically rich chord progression that is characteristic of the pop/jazz fusion style popular in the late 70s and 80s. The chorus features a mix of diatonic, borrowed, and secondary-dominant chords, creating an expressive palette of colors and tensions. This progression shares similarities with other ballads and pop songs from the era.

“Penny Lane,” written by the Beatles, utilizes key changes and borrowed chords to create an interesting and complex tonal palette. The song is best understood to primarily be in the key of A Major; however, it frequently borrows chords from the parallel minor key, uses unexpected dominant chords, and briefly modulates to other key areas for color and variety. This is characteristic of several Beatles songs, and it’s one of the ways they added complexity to their music while still remaining accessible.

Nine Inch Nails – Every Day Is Exactly The Same – Chorus

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Chord Progression

E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E

Chord Progression Analysis

E | A | C | G
Em (i) | A (IV) | Cmaj (♭VI) | G (III)
Borrowed chords: A (IV) and G (III) from E major.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep”
Chord Progression:
G | B | C | Cm
Gmaj (I) | Bmaj (III) | Cmaj (IV) | Cmin (iv)

2. The Beatles – “In My Life”
Chord Progression:
A | E | F#m | D | G | A
A (I) | E (V) | F#m (vi) | D (IV) | G (♭VII) | A (I)

These examples show a similar use of borrowed chords in their progressions, which contribute to an engaging sound that stands out as a signature element of the artist’s style.

Musical Analysis

The main progression in the chorus is built with two borrowed chords (A and G) from the parallel major key (E Major). The progression starts with the tonic chord (Em) that defines the E minor tonality. It then progresses to the A major chord, which is borrowed from E major, adding interest and brightness to the sound.

Next, the progression moves to C major, which acts as a submediant chord in the E minor key. This chord is not borrowed and belongs to the original key. The progression then moves to the G major chord, which is also borrowed from E major, before returning to the tonic chord (Em). This combination of common and borrowed chords creates a unique and engaging chord progression.

Overall Analysis

The song “Every Day is Exactly the Same” by Nine Inch Nails is in E minor key. The chord progression found in the chorus consists mainly of common chords found in the E minor key, along with a couple of borrowed chords from E major. The use of borrowed chords adds unique color and tension to the music.

Style Analysis

The band Nine Inch Nails is known for its dark, moody, and atmospheric sound, which combines elements of industrial, rock, and electronic music. The use of borrowed chords in this chord progression contributes to this signature style, having a darker feel by taking elements from both E minor and E major keys.

Chords in the Chorus section of Every Day Is Exactly The Same by Nine Inch Nails are:

E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E, A, C, G, E