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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Comfortably Numb” is a song by Pink Floyd from their 1979 album, The Wall. It is written in the key of D major and has a slow, dreamy tempo. The second verse of the song features a chord progression that is a blend of major and minor chords, giving the song a sense of melancholy mixed with a calming atmosphere. It also deviates from the typical pop/rock chord progressions, signifying Pink Floyd’s distinct sound and innovative use of harmony.

“Hey You” by Pink Floyd is a progressive rock song from the concept album “The Wall.” The song is characterized by its atmospheric sound created through a combination of acoustic and electric guitars, haunting vocals, and a variety of effects. The chord progression of Verse 3 is interesting as it features a mix of diatonic chords, borrowed chords, and extensions such as the add9 chords that contribute to the song’s unique sound.

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‘Set Fire to the Rain’ is written in the key of D minor. The main course of progression uses the chords of Dm, B-flat Major, F Major and C Major. This is a 6-4-1-5 progression, which is very popular and is used in a lot of pop music.

What makes this progression interesting is that Adele uses the 2nd inversion of the A minor chord, Am/B, and G/A, which gives it a unique timbre. `Am/B` is the 2nd inversion of the `Am` chord and `G/A` is the 2nd inversion of the `G` chord.

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The song “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay is in the key of G major and follows a fairly simple chord progression in the pop/rock genre. This progression particularly makes use of the I, IV, V, and vi chords in this key, which is a typical pop progression.

The key of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ is G Major, a common key for pop and country songs which provides a bright and uplifting sound. Throughout the song, only four different chords are used: G, D, Em and C. The progression is repeated consistently, with only the sudden introduction of an F major chord (borrowed from the parallel minor of G) towards the end of the song during a transition phase.

Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb – Chorus

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Chord Progression

D, A, D, A, G/B, C, G, G/B, C, G, D, A, D, A, G/B, C, G, G/B, C, G, Asus4, A, G/B, Cadd9, G, D

Chord Progression Analysis

D Major (I), A Major (V), D Major (I), A Major (V), G/B (IV6), C Major (bVII), G Major (IV), G/B (IV6), C Major (bVII), G Major (IV), D Major (I), A Major (V), D Major (I), A Major (V), G/B (IV6), C Major (bVII), G Major (IV), G/B (IV6), C Major (bVII), G Major (IV), A sus4 (V sus4), A Major (V), G/B (IV6), Cadd9 (bVII add9), G Major (IV), D Major (I)

`Borrowed Chords: bVII (C Major)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. The Beatles – “Let It Be”
Chord progression: C Major (I), G Major (V), A minor (vi), F Major (IV), C Major (I), G Major (V), F Major (IV), C Major (I)

2. Oasis – “Wonderwall”
Chord progression: E minor7 (vi7), G Major (I), D sus4 (IV sus4), A7 sus4 (V7 sus4), E minor7 (vi7), G Major (I), D sus4 (IV sus4), A7 sus4 (V7 sus4)

3. Radiohead – “Karma Police”
Chord progression: A minor (i), A minor/F# (i7), A minor/F (i6), E minor (iv), D Major (VII), G Major (VI), C Major (III), B Major (II), A minor (i)

Musical Analysis

The chorus predominantly features a repetition of the I-V progression between D Major and A Major, which provides a strong foundation for the overall harmonic structure. The borrowed chord from the parallel minor, bVII (C Major), is introduced alongside the IV (G Major) and IV6 (G/B) chords, adding contrast and a subtle touch of unease to the soothing progression. The use of the A sus4 transitioning into the A Major chord further enhances the harmonic interest.

Overall Analysis

The chorus of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” is a perfect example of their signature sound, combining both rock and progressive elements. The harmonic structure is simple yet effective, providing a sense of resolution and stability throughout the progression. This, combined with the smooth melodic lines, gives listeners a feeling of being “comfortably numb.”

Style Analysis

“Comfortably Numb” seamlessly fuses rock with progressive elements, a hallmark of Pink Floyd’s music. The chord progression is relatively simple, yet the inclusion of the borrowed chord and suspended chord adds depth and complexity. David Gilmour’s distinctive guitar work and solos elevate the track, giving it an ethereal and timeless quality.

Chords in the Chorus section of Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd are:

D, A, D, A, G/B, C, G, G/B, C, G, D, A, D, A, G/B, C, G, G/B, C, G, Asus4, A, G/B, Cadd9, G, D