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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“3 Libras Acoustic Live” by A Perfect Circle revolves around a rock ballad style with an alternative rock genre. It features distinctive chord progressions and some borrowing from outside of the primary key. The harmonic progression in the chorus is relatively simple but contributes to the melancholic and introspective atmosphere of the song.

The progression from B to A to E is a common progression in pop and rock music. This progression utilizes diatonic and non-diatonic chords, meaning that the chords all belong to the same key and it suggests the use of borrowed chords. A Perfect Circle tends to use a lot of downward motion in their chord progressions, moving from higher to lower pitches, which can give their music a distinct ‘heavy’ feel.

“After You’ve Gone” is a jazz standard composed by Django Reinhardt. The verse progression of the song uses a combination of major, minor and dominant chords with some borrowed chords and secondary dominants, which is a hallmark of early jazz and swing music. The harmonic rhythm is mainly at a pace of one or two chords per bar, with occasional faster changes. The piece has a strong sense of tonal center around the key of G major.

“Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” features a memorable and catchy chord progression, with a mix of major and minor chords that creates an overall uplifting and pleasant atmosphere. The song is in the key of G Major and employs a simple and repetitive progression, characteristic of pop and rock music. Although the chord progression is fairly common, the rhythmic pattern and melodic line make the song stand out among other pop and rock tunes.

The chord progression of the verse in Weezer’s “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To I Want You To” uses a combination of diatonic and borrowed chords in the key of D Major. The use of the borrowed chord from the parallel minor key contributes to the unique sound of the progression.

A Perfect Circle – 3 Libras Acoustic Live – Verse

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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’]