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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls is well-known for its unique tuning and chords which adds a certain tenderness and emotional depth to the song. The song is in D Major and utilizes a repeated chord progression that is relatively simple but effective.

“`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)
“`

The outro of Muse’s “Apocalypse Please” features a mix of power chords and triadic chords, with predominant iim7 and IV triads along with some embellishing chords. The piece has a rock-based style, with the emphasis on power chords, a driving rhythm, and intense dynamics. The chord progression borrows elements from different genres, such as pop and classical, with some interesting chromatic movement.

Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ contains a rich mixture of chord progressions, which is typical of the band’s complex songwriting. The outro of the song makes use of the F, F7, Bb, and Gm7 chords. This progression is in the key of F Major, with F being the tonic (I), F7 being the dominant 7th (V7), Bb being the subdominant (IV) and Gm7 being the submediant 7th (vi7). The Bb chord is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (F Minor) and the usage of F7 serves to add a level of tension before resolving to the Bb.

The chord progression in the outro of “Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead utilizes some common and some less common harmonic devices. The piece employs diatonic chords with some added extensions, giving a sense of tension and release. Furthermore, the progression is in the key of A major, which contributes to the overall tonality and harmonic structure.

Goo Goo Dolls – Iris – Outro

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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’]