Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

“`plaintext
D Major (I)
E Minor (ii)
G Major (IV)
B Minor (vi)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
E Minor (ii)
G Major (IV)
B Minor (vi)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
“`

“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls is a song in the key of D Major, and uses a very common pop/rock chord progression. The sheer repetition of the progression throughout the verse establishes a solid harmonic background upon which the melody can freely roam. Chords include the primary triads (I, IV, V) which are D, G, A, minor variations of the secondary triads (ii, iii, vi), which are Em, F#m, Bm.

The chord progression in the famous outro of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ illustrates the eccentricity Queen was known for throughout their discography. This section consists of bold modulations, chromatic chord progressions, and borrowed chords, showing off Freddie Mercury’s compositional sophistication and creativity. It’s evident that Mercury’s influence for this song came from various musical genres, including progressive rock, classical, and operatic music.

The outro of “Heart Is A Drum” by Beck features a non-diatonic chord progression that includes a mixture of major, minor, and suspended chords. This chord progression results in a sense of longing and unresolved tension that is appropriate for an outro section. Additionally, the progression includes a borrowed chord, the Eb6sus2, which is borrowed from the parallel minor key and contributes to the unique, emotional quality of the song.

The Rolling Stones’ “As Tears Go By” is primarily in the key of G major and follows a Verse-Verse-Verse-Outro structure. The harmony is relatively simple, incorporating primarily diatonic chords from the G major scale as well as a few borrowed chords and inversions.

Chord Progression Analysis (Outro):
G Major (I) – A Major (V/vi, borrowed from E minor) – C Major (IV) – D Major (V) – G Major (I)

Goo Goo Dolls – Iris – Outro

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

[‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The outro chord progression goes as follows:
– B minor chord (vi)
– A major chord (V)
– G major chord (IV)
– B minor chord (vi)
– A major chord (V)
– G major chord (IV)
– B minor chord (vi)
– A major chord (V)
– B minor chord (vi)

`[B minor chord (vi), A major chord (V), G major chord (IV), B minor chord (vi), A major chord (V), G major chord (IV), B minor chord (vi), A major chord (V), B minor chord (vi)]`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”: [‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’] uses a very similar chord progression but instead focuses on the chord progression Bm-G-D-A.
2. Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”: [‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’] uses the same progression as “Viva La Vida”
3. Rihanna’s “Diamonds”: [‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’] This is an example which uses an almost identical chord progression.

Overall:
The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” outro uses a very popular and effective chord progression seen in many other pop songs. Its ability to mix both a sense of closure and tension with the use of the fifth (V) makes it an excellent choice for the conclusion of a song.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression is descending and is repeated three times, beginning each time on Bm and ending on G except for the last time where it ends on Bm instead of G. This creates a cyclical structure that is typical of popular music. The use of the relative minor (Bm) creates a hint of melancholy in its tonal color, which gives certain depth and complexity to the sound.

Overall Analysis

The key of the song is D major which makes it easier to analyze the chord progression according to the diatonic scale in the key of D Major.

Style Analysis

Progression from vi (Bm), V (A), to IV (G) is a very common progression used in pop music. It allows for a sense of resolve and closure, while also introducing some tension with the use of the fifth (V). The repeated use of this progression creates a sense of familiarity and catchiness, which is essential in pop music styles.

Chords in the Outro section of Iris by Goo Goo Dolls are:

[‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’]