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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Paint It Black” plays with minor tonality, which isn’t extremely common in rock and roll music of the era. The song is in the key of E minor and uses the chords Em, B, D, G, and A. The verse has an interesting use of harmonies, incorporating the minor i, major V, minor iv, major bIII, and major IV chords.

“Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones is a famous Rock song heavily influenced by the Indian classical form of music called Raga rock. The song is written in E minor and it has a very distinctively descending minor key tonality. The chords progression in the verse sequence doesn’t follow the conventional rules of western tonal harmony as it navigates through various key centers, showcasing the bands exploration of exotic and unconventional songwriting.

“Wild Horses” is a song by the rock band Rolling Stones from their 1971 album “Sticky Fingers”. It is a great example of the band’s adeptness not only at writing catchy rock songs but also at creating complex and interesting chord progressions. The song is in the key of G major. The verse progression is interesting with the use of the B minor chord (Bm), which is the iii chord in the key of G major – a chord that isn’t commonly used in popular music.

The Verse 3 chord progression in Muse’s cover of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is a fairly simple progression that features harmonic devices such as seventh chords, borrowed chords, and a half-diminished chord. This progression incorporates some jazz and pop influences into a stylistically cohesive and engaging harmonic landscape.

“Time” by Pink Floyd is a progressive rock piece characterized by its reflective lyrics, syncopated rhythms, and distinctive use of chromaticism and modality. This chord progression takes place in the third verse of the song, where the harmonic structure is more complex and features borrowed chords, creating a sense of tension and resolution, reflecting the lyrics and conveying emotions of nostalgia and regret.

The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
E minor (‘i’)
B Major (‘V’)
E minor (‘i’)
B Major (‘V’)
E minor (‘i’)
D Major (‘VII’ – borrowed from E Dorian)
G Major (‘III’)
D Major (‘VII’ – borrowed from E Dorian)
E minor (‘i’)
E minor (‘i’)
D Major (‘VII’ – borrowed from E Dorian)
G Major (‘III’)
D Major (‘VII’ – borrowed from E Dorian)
A Major (‘IV’ – borrowed from E Mixolydian)
B Major (‘V’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve:
“`
E Major (‘I’)
B minor (‘iv’)
D Major (‘VI’)
A Major (‘IV’)

“`
2. “Let It Be” by The Beatles:
“`
C Major (‘I’)
G Major (‘V’)
A minor (‘vi’ – borrowed from C minor)
F Major (‘IV’)
“`

Musical Analysis

This progression is interesting because it embodies the principles of modal interchange, where chords from different scales or modes with the same root note are used interchangeably. Here the D Major and G Major are borrowed from E Dorian, and The A Major is borrowed from E Mixolydian.

Overall Analysis

“Paint It, Black” is in E minor key, with verse 3 having an exciting harmonic progression: Em – B – Em – B – Em – D – G – D – Em – Em – D – G – D – A – B. The chord progression suggests that the Rolling Stones utilise borrowed chords to impose an air of ambiguity that reflects the song’s lyrical themes. Additionally, this song is a blend of rock and raga rock style and exemplifies the Stones’ 1960s exploration into psychedelia and Eastern musical styles.

Style Analysis

“Paint It, Black” carries elements of raga rock, which fuses Indian classical raga music with rock music. The minor tonality and modal interchange in the progression contribute to the somewhat ambiguous and melancholy mood of the piece.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones are:

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