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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“`plaintext
D Major (I)
E Minor (ii)
G Major (IV)
B Minor (vi)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
E Minor (ii)
G Major (IV)
B Minor (vi)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
“`

“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls is a song in the key of D Major, and uses a very common pop/rock chord progression. The sheer repetition of the progression throughout the verse establishes a solid harmonic background upon which the melody can freely roam. Chords include the primary triads (I, IV, V) which are D, G, A, minor variations of the secondary triads (ii, iii, vi), which are Em, F#m, Bm.

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys is one of their most well-known pieces and a primary example of the sophisticated harmonic writing characteristic of the group’s 1966 “Pet Sounds” record. This piece is particularly designed in the key of A major. The Outro of the song includes the following chords: ‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘E/G#’ and many other chords throughout the song with complex chord changes that might not be typical in a pop song, but are characteristic of the band’s sound.

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The song, ‘Across the Universe’ by The Beatles is uniquely complex in its melody and chord progression. The song modulates or shifts key but is rooted mainly in D major. The song utilizes the standard rock/pop song structure of Verse, Chorus, and Outro. The unusual facet of this song’s composition is the use of borrowed chords (non-diatonic chords) that add unexpected twists to an otherwise typical chord progression.

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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.

Goo Goo Dolls – Iris – Outro

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Chord Progression

[‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The outro chord progression goes as follows:
– B minor chord (vi)
– A major chord (V)
– G major chord (IV)
– B minor chord (vi)
– A major chord (V)
– G major chord (IV)
– B minor chord (vi)
– A major chord (V)
– B minor chord (vi)

`[B minor chord (vi), A major chord (V), G major chord (IV), B minor chord (vi), A major chord (V), G major chord (IV), B minor chord (vi), A major chord (V), B minor chord (vi)]`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”: [‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’] uses a very similar chord progression but instead focuses on the chord progression Bm-G-D-A.
2. Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”: [‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’] uses the same progression as “Viva La Vida”
3. Rihanna’s “Diamonds”: [‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’] This is an example which uses an almost identical chord progression.

Overall:
The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” outro uses a very popular and effective chord progression seen in many other pop songs. Its ability to mix both a sense of closure and tension with the use of the fifth (V) makes it an excellent choice for the conclusion of a song.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression is descending and is repeated three times, beginning each time on Bm and ending on G except for the last time where it ends on Bm instead of G. This creates a cyclical structure that is typical of popular music. The use of the relative minor (Bm) creates a hint of melancholy in its tonal color, which gives certain depth and complexity to the sound.

Overall Analysis

The key of the song is D major which makes it easier to analyze the chord progression according to the diatonic scale in the key of D Major.

Style Analysis

Progression from vi (Bm), V (A), to IV (G) is a very common progression used in pop music. It allows for a sense of resolve and closure, while also introducing some tension with the use of the fifth (V). The repeated use of this progression creates a sense of familiarity and catchiness, which is essential in pop music styles.

Chords in the Outro section of Iris by Goo Goo Dolls are:

[‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’]