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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin is a rock song that features a mix of blues and psychedelic elements. The chord progression in the verse is quite unconventional and may invoke a feeling of unease, which matches the song’s mysterious and somewhat disorienting theme.

The outro of “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin features a simple alternating chord progression between G major and A major, which creates tension by avoiding a resolution to the tonic or dominant chords. This makes the progression sound unstable, yet well defined as it repeats. The recurring ascending motion creates a sense of lift throughout the outro, while the lack of a true resolution maintains a feeling of unease. This progression is notable for its simplicity, as well as how it invokes a modal sound that is characteristic of the mixolydian mode often used in rock music.

The chord progression “[‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘D’]” from the outro of Weezer’s “The Good Life” is a simple, yet effective progression in the key of E minor. It demonstrates a melancholic feel common to alternative rock and power-pop music genres of the 1990s. The chords in this progression are borrowed from the E natural minor scale.

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.

“A Star is Born – Shallow” is primarily in the key of G major and has a fairly simple and straightforward chord progression with an intriguing twist toward the end. The song features a common I-V-vi-IV chord progression with an occasional ii-chord (Am) substituting for the vi-chord (Em). Then, it introducess a borrowed chord (Bm) which creates an interesting, unexpected color in the harmony.

Led Zeppelin – Dazed And Confused – Outro

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Chord Progression

E5, E5, E5, E5, D5, D5, E5

Chord Progression Analysis

E5 (I), E5 (I), E5 (I), E5 (I), D5 (♭VII), D5 (♭VII), E5 (I)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Sunshine Of Your Love” by Cream:
C5 (I), B♭5 (♭VII), A♭5 (♭VI), G5 (V), C5 (I)

2. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix:
E♭7#9 (I), G♭7 (♭III), A7#9 (V), E♭7#9 (I)

3. “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple:
G5 (I), B♭5 (♭III), C5 (IV), G5 (I), F5 (♭VII), C5 (IV), G5 (I)

These songs make use of similar techniques such as power chords, blues-influenced riffs, and borrowing chords from other modes, giving them a similar sound and style to the outro of “Dazed and Confused.”

Musical Analysis

The outro of “Dazed and Confused” is built around a repetitive pattern of power chords. Power chords, also known as “fifth chords” or “5 chords”, are chords that include the root and the fifth note of the major or minor scale. These chords are popular in rock music because they provide a strong, full sound without the additional complexity of major or minor triads. In this progression, we see the emphasis on the I chord (E5), which gives the outro a strong, grounded feel. The use of the ♭VII chord (D5) acts as a borrowed chord from the E Mixolydian mode, creating tension and providing a bluesy touch.

Overall Analysis

“Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin is an iconic rock song that features a descending bass line and bluesy chord progressions. The outro takes on a more aggressive tone and the chords are power chords, which give the song a heavy sound. These power chords, mixed with the syncopated rhythm and the blues-rock influences, contribute to the song’s unique character.

Style Analysis

“Dazed and Confused” is an iconic example of 1960s and 1970s hard rock and blues-rock, characterized by heavy power chords, distorted guitar sounds, and strong rhythmic elements. Led Zeppelin was one of the bands that pioneered this fusion of blues and rock, and their music strongly influenced the development of hard rock, heavy metal, and psychedelic rock. Many artists in these genres also employ the use of power chords, borrowed chords from Mixolydian mode, and descending bass lines.

Chords in the Outro section of Dazed And Confused by Led Zeppelin are:

E5, E5, E5, E5, D5, D5, E5