Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “3 Libras Acoustic Live” by A Perfect Circle oscillates between an A major and a C# minor structure, with a D major introduced at the end of the progression. The dominant chords are A (represented as Asus2) and C# (represented as C#m). The final D chord can be seen as a modulation, adding a somewhat unexpected resolution that doesn’t adhere to the traditional rules of tonic-dominant resolution in either major or minor keys.

The song “Gravity” by A Perfect Circle is principally in the key signature of C# minor, which is categorically a minor scale. The primary chords used throughout the song are C#m, F#, and G#m, with the addition of E occasionally. The overall chord progression is quite consistent, with alternative lose touch of the conventional nature of chord progressions in pop and rock music.

“Hey Jude,” by The Beatles, is an iconic song. The chord progression is in the key of D major and it follows a sort of Variation on I-V-IV-I progression of many pop and rock songs. However, what makes this song extremely unique is its out-of-the-box structure and the experimental use of borrowed cords – it shows The Beatles’ fondness for combining elements of pop, rock and classical music and results in an emotional, powerful progression that resonates strongly with listeners.

**

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones is built around major tonality and uses direct and simple progressions. It also features what are known as additive chords (Gadd9) – chords to which notes are added beyond the common triad. The song commences in the key of G Major, indicated by the G, Gadd9, and C chords. These chords progress in an almost continual cyclical pattern across the verses. Here, the dominant chord (D) in the key of G Major is absent, which grants a tonal ambiguity to the song. Interestingly, the song takes a departure into a different key later on which will not be included in this analysis as it pertains to the Verse only.

**

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys showcases the artistic depth and compositional craft of Brian Wilson, the band’s primary songwriter. The song utilizes a complex chord progression and key changes that are unconventional for pop music of its time. The chord progression creates a sense of constant mood transitions, similar to arias in Romantic era music.

A Perfect Circle – 3 Libras Acoustic Live – Verse

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

[‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘D’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The chord progression can be segmented into two main parts:

1. Asus2 – Asus2 – Asus2 – Asus2 – C#m – C#m – C#m – C#m
2. Asus2 – Asus2 – Asus2 – Asus2 – C#m – C#m – D – D

And their respective Roman numerals:

1. Asus2 (IVsus2) – Asus2 (IVsus2) – Asus2 (IVsus2) – Asus2 (IVsus2) – C#m (vi) – C#m (vi) – C#m (vi) – C#m (vi)
2. Asus2 (IVsus2) – Asus2 (IVsus2) – Asus2 (IVsus2) – Asus2 (IVsus2) – C#m (vi) – C#m (vi) – D (♭VII) – D (♭VII)

Borrowed chords:
“`
C#m (vi)
D (♭VII)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

One notable song with a similar chord progression is “Black” by Pearl Jam (in the key of E major):

Verse:
E – E – Aadd9 – Aadd9 – C#m – C#m – D – D

Chord/Roman numeral representation:
E (I) – E (I) – Aadd9 (IVadd9) – Aadd9 (IVadd9) – C#m (vi) – C#m (vi) – D (♭VII) – D (♭VII)

As with “3 Libras,” “Black” uses suspended and minor chords in its verse to create a dark, melancholic tone, and borrows the ♭VII from the parallel minor.

Musical Analysis

The extensive use of the Asus2 chord creates a sense of movement and unresolved tension in the piece. The frequent repetition of these specific chords contributes to that sense of movement and anticipation, which is then furthered by the unexpected turns to the C# minor and D major chords – borrowed chords from the parallel minor key.

Overall Analysis

The progression starts on the suspended II chord of the key, which anticipates resolution either to the tonic (E major) or the supertonic (F# minor). However, it instead moves to the dominant minor (C# minor), suggesting a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (E minor). The D major chord which concludes the progression is a borrowed II from E minor as well.

Style Analysis

“3 Libras” is characteristic of the alternative rock/post-grunge style of A Perfect Circle, particularly their exploration of darker harmonies and suspended tonality. The song’s style also incorporates elements of the progressive rock genre, demonstrated by its utilization of non-diatonic harmony and unusual chord progressions.

Chords in the Verse section of 3 Libras Acoustic Live by A Perfect Circle are:

[‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘Asus2’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘D’, ‘D’]