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Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones is a classic track that exhibits some very traditional aspects of popular music and blues-based rock. The song is in D major and follows a fairly standard chord progression, using only three chords (D, A, and G), which make up four-measure phrases that are repeated throughout this part of the song.

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“Honky Tonk Women” by the Rolling Stones is a classic rock track steeped in the blues tradition. The song is played in the key of G Major and primarily uses chords G, C, A, and D.

**Chorus

“Let It Happen” by Tame Impala is characterized by its psychedelic and experimental nuances. It features an overall bright and uplifting tone despite its use of some more complex chords. The song ska common in pop music. The chord progression in question has a strong melodic sensibility demonstrating Kevin Parker’s ability to incorporate complex musical ideas into a pop format.

“Undone – The Sweater Song” by Weezer is a grunge rock song from their debut album, “Weezer (The Blue Album)” released in 1994. The chord progression in Verse 2 seems to blend elements from both pop and rock genres, with some diatonic chords and a borrowed chord that adds an unexpected twist.

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“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails utilizes a relatively simple chord structure, which allows the song to establish a pervasive atmosphere and direct the listener’s focus on the lyrics and melodies. This piece is in the key of C minor, and the chord progression is cyclical in nature, with Verse 2 consisting of the repetition of Cm7 chord throughout.

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The Rolling Stones – Dead Flowers – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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D Major (‘I’), A Major (‘V’), G Major (‘IV’), D Major (‘I’)
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In the context of the key, no borrowed chords are present.

Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in the following songs:
1. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
– D (‘I’), C (‘bVII’), G (‘IV’), D (‘I’)
2. “Already Gone” by The Eagles
– G (‘I’), D (‘V’), C (‘IV’), G (‘I’)

Both these songs use very similar chord progressions, and their vibes and themes resonate with “Dead Flowers”. They also fall into the rock/country hybrid genre The Rolling Stones ventured into with this song.

Musical Analysis

In terms of music theory, “Dead Flowers” stands out for its simple yet effective chord progression. The pattern of I-V-IV-I creates a solid foundation for the melody. It’s a simple circle of progression that starts and ends on the same chord, creating a cyclical harmonic motion throughout the song. This is a hallmark of the Rolling Stones’ songwriting style: basic harmonic structures embellished by distinctive melodic and rhythmic elements, mainly driven by the lead guitar riffs and the vocals.

Overall Analysis

“Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones, from their album “Sticky Fingers” (1971), features a fairly straightforward repetitive chord progression of D, A, G, D in the verse. The key here is D Major. This common progression falls into a I-V-IV-I pattern known as a “plagal cadence”. It’s a progression which consists of a major key followed by its dominant (V), then its subdominant (IV), taking us back to the tonic (I).

Style Analysis

This chord progression reflects the Stones’ propensity for Americana and country-inspired rock. The simplicity and structure of the chords embody the essence of traditional country music, while their rock sensibility emerges in the song’s instrumentation and production.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones are:

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’]