Green Day – Boulevard Of Broken Dreams – Verse 5
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’]
Chord Progression Analysis
E minor (i)
G major (III)
D major (VII)
A major (‘IV/iv) — this is a borrowed chord from the parallel major key.
Similar Chord Progressions
The chord progression Em-G-D-A is often seen in many pop and rock genres due to its simple yet effective harmonic movement. Some notable examples can be found in songs like:
“Telephone Line” by Electric Light Orchestra
Verse: [‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’]
“Can’t Stop” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Verse: [‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘D’, ‘A’]
While these are not exactly the same as the progression used by Green Day, they have a similar structure and feel.
Musical Analysis
When examining the first few measures of the song, the constant alternation between Em and G establishes a strong i-III progression in the verses. This progression creates a striking back-and-forth in tonality. Following this, the D major and A major chords provide pleasant harmonic diversity and help the progression avoid sounding too monotonous. Although the A major is a borrowed chord from the parallel major key, it still fits in the overall tonality of the song without creating an awkward transition.
Overall Analysis
This song, “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”, is arguably one of Green Day’s most iconic hits off their album “American Idiot”. Musically, it is set in the key of E minor, with an intermediate tempo. Its chord progression is simple but effective, proven by the song’s tremendous success.
Style Analysis
Green Day’s style is characterized by its alternative rock sound, fused with punk rock. Dominated by short predictable sequences, their chord progressions lay a solid foundation for melody and lyrics, allowing them to explore variations in other elements of the song.
What are the chords in: Green Day – Boulevard Of Broken Dreams – Verse 5?
[‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’]
