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The song “The Outsider” by A Perfect Circle frequently uses the chord progression [‘B’, ‘B’, ‘A’, ‘E’] in the key of E major. When viewing the chords through the lens of E major we can identify the chord progression as ii, ii, V, I. Furthermore, It shows some interesting harmonic decisions throughout. Most notably, the band makes use of borrowed chords which are chords taken from the parallel minor (in this case E minor). Here, the borrowed chords include A major and C major.

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.

“Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala is a psychedelic pop song notable for its dreamy, lo-fi sound and use of unconventional chord progressions. Musically, the song is written in the key of F major, but creatively uses chromatic mediants, borrowed chords, and modal interchange to establish a unique harmony. The song also uses dynamic contrast to create a dreamlike atmosphere, increasing the song’s overall psychedelic effect.

Verse 2 of Grizzly Bear’s “Yet Again” presents a straightforward harmonic progression that is common in pop and indie rock music. This series of chords is mainly built around the key of A minor, and uses diatonic chords (those that naturally occur within the key) of this key. The recurring sequence (Am, G, C, F, F, Em, C, Dm) indicates a strong sense of familiarity and predictability, characteristic of many pop/rock anthologies.

“The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles is written in the key of D major and utilizes various chord progressions that contribute to its melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere.

A Perfect Circle – The Outsider – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘B’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘B’, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘A’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The provided fragment of the song alternates between B major, A major, and E major, implying a key of E major. As such, the chords would be identified as:

– B Major (V)
– A Major (IV)
– E Major (I)

The repeated cycling through these chords would look like this:

`[B Major (V), A Major (IV), E Major (I), B Major (V), B Major (V), A Major (IV), B Major (V), A Major (IV), E Major (I)]`

Similar Chord Progressions

There are numerous examples of songs that use a similar progression, here are a few:

– Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (Em, G, D, A) `[E minor (i), G Major (III), D Major (VII), A Major (IV)]`
– The Rolling Stones’ “Angie” (Am, E7, G, F) `[A minor (i), E7 (V), G Major (III), F Major (VI)]`
– The Beatles’ “Let it Be” (C, G, Am, F) `[C Major (I), G Major (V), A minor (vi), F Major (IV)]`

Please note that these examples are natively in different keys, and have been adjusted to fit the key of E major for comparison with ‘The Outsider’. So the Roman numeral designations will differ within their own native key structures. They are only the same in the key of E Major.

Musical Analysis

The Outsider, by A Perfect Circle, uses a strong and repeating chord progression throughout the song. This gives the music a driven, cyclical feel. The move between B (V), A (IV), and E (I) is a very strong resolution in classical harmony, known as a perfect cadence. This move to the tonic (I) chord at the end of the progression provides a satisfying resolution, making the music feel settled and complete at the end of each cycle.

Overall Analysis

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.

Style Analysis

A Perfect Circle’s style is often characterized by angsty lyrics, down-tuned guitars, complex time signatures, and innovative chord progressions. The band blends elements of progressive rock, art rock, hard rock, and metal into their sound.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of The Outsider by A Perfect Circle are:

[‘B’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘B’, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘A’, ‘E’]