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“Beast of Burden,” by The Rolling Stones, a song characterized by a typical rock-pop structure, primarily uses a IV-chord loop in the key of E major. The chord progression in the outro follows a specific sequence: E, to B, to C#m, to A. The return to the E at the end of the progression gives it a circular feel that encourages cohesion.

“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones, off their 1971 album Sticky Fingers, is in the key of C major, and primarily uses the chords C, F, G and Bb. This song showcases the band’s blues rock influences, built on a repetitive, riff-driven chord progression. The use of I, IV, V, and a borrowed bVII (Bb), which is common in the blues, creates an appealing and familiar sound, helping the song resonate with listeners.

The chord progression in the chorus of Muse’s “Apocalypse Please” consists of a mix of diatonic chords and borrowed chords from the parallel major and minor keys. The progression features strong harmonic movement with a pivot modulation. Muse is known for their dramatic, often symphonic rock sound, and this progression is no exception in showing off their signature style. The progression also shares some similarities with other artists’ works in both structure and harmonic content.

The chorus of Taylor Swift’s song “ME!” employs a bright and catchy chord progression that’s emblematic of pop music’s joyful and exuberant character. This progression underpins the song’s themes of self-affirmation and positivity, making it an infectious and memorable part of the track.

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.

The Rolling Stones – Beast Of Burden – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘B’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The chorus sequence [A, E/G#, A, E/G#, B] comes out as follows:

“`
A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), B Major (‘V’)
“`

In context of E major, A Major is the IV, E Major is the I, and B Major is the V. The E/G# denotes an inversion, which means the G# (the 3rd of the E Major chord) is in the bass.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, with the progression:

“`
D Major (‘IV’), A Major/E (‘I’), D Major (‘IV’), A Major/E (‘I’), E Major (‘V’)
“`

2. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, notably the chorus, with the progression:

“`
A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), B Major (‘V’)
“`
These songs share similar progressions to “Beast of Burden”, employing the IV-I movement and utilizing inverted chords to create melodically interesting baselines.

Musical Analysis

In this progression, The Rolling Stones use an interesting combination of major, minor, and inverted chords to lend an unsettled yet still grounded feel to the song. The E/G# inversions serve as a passing tone, smoothing the transition between the A and B chords.

Overall Analysis

“Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones uses a common rock arrangement with a focus on the V, I, and vi chords. The distinguishing factor for this particular progression is its consistent use of inverted chords to create more linear, and stepwise, bass lines.

Style Analysis

The Rolling Stones often favor blues-influenced progressions, but “Beast of Burden” deviates from this slightly by interspersing more pop-esque IV-I movements. Still, the band’s rock ‘n’ roll roots declare themselves in the climactic shift from I to V, providing a punchy resolve.

Chords in the Chorus section of Beast Of Burden by The Rolling Stones are:

[‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘B’]