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The song “The Outsider” by A Perfect Circle has a main key signature of E major, as indicated by the repeated occurrences of the chords B, A, and E. The overall structure is tonal, using chords common in Western music. Some elements of modality are observable though, with the use of the C chord, which in traditional music theory would be considered a borrowed chord from the parallel E minor scale. A sense of tension and release is created through the use of these non-diatonic chords, which ultimately helps to maintain the listener’s interest.

“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.

“Zombie” by The Cranberries is in the key of E minor. Its structure is generally pop and rock, with the power of distorted guitars and a heavy drumbeat complemented by Dolores O’Riordan’s haunting vocals. It utilizes a four-chord progression, which is common in many pop and rock tracks and has been a popular choice amongst songwriters for its simplicity and versatility.

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney. The song is primarily in the key of D Major and exhibits a mix of major, minor, and dominant seventh chords. This verse progression manifests the distinctive Beatles’ sound which often includes chromaticism and prevalence of secondary dominants that link the chords together, giving a smooth flow and color to the harmonic progression.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a multi-genre masterpiece that incorporates elements of ballad, opera, and hard rock, showcasing Queen’s versatility and musical potential. The song is mainly in the key of Bb major, but it aggressively utilizes modulations, chromaticism, borrowed chords, and modally mixed chords. The given chord progression is from the verse that follows the opera section, here Queen offers an unusual, nuanced chord progression that complements the surrounding sections.

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’]