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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Kashmir” is often regarded as one of Led Zeppelin’s greatest creations, featuring a unique chord progression, distinctive rhythmic patterns, and a fusion of Eastern and Western musical elements. Composed in DADGAD tuning, the song is in the key of D Mixolydian and reflects the band’s experimental approach to songwriting and genre-blending. Although the chord progression may be seen as unconventional in rock music, it is effective in establishing a hypnotic and evocative atmosphere.

“Stairway to Heaven” is a well-known song by Led Zeppelin, released in 1971 on their untitled fourth album, which is often referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV” or “Zoso.” The song, composed by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, is a complex piece with various sections and stylistic influences. The section under analysis, Bridge 2, is a chord progression that serves as a connecting passage between the more tranquil sections of the song and the harder, rock aspects that follow. The chords are built on diatonic and chromatic elements, showcasing the band’s skill in creating evocative harmonic progressions.

The song “3 Libras Acoustic Live” by A Perfect Circle oscillates between an A major and a C# minor structure, with a D major introduced at the end of the progression. The dominant chords are A (represented as Asus2) and C# (represented as C#m). The final D chord can be seen as a modulation, adding a somewhat unexpected resolution that doesn’t adhere to the traditional rules of tonic-dominant resolution in either major or minor keys.

“Disarm” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a piece that showcases a rather common chord progression structure in pop music, but with added embellishments and variations. The featured chords include Dsus, Em7, Cadd9, G, and Dsus/F# with a key signature suggesting that the song is in the key of G major or E minor. The prominent chord in the outro is Dsus which suggests that the song might be interpreted in the D Mixolydian mode. The use of the slash chord (D/F#) diversifies the sound of the progression and adds harmonic richness. This chord progression uses both diatonic and borrowed chords creating a familiar but interesting sound.

The outro chord progression of “Are We Still Friends” by Tyler, The Creator has an interesting and somewhat unconventional structure. It’s composed of four chords and follows a pattern that showcases chromatic motion, a key element often found in the music of Tyler, The Creator. The vamp is harmonically ambiguous, relying on the dynamic interplay between the chords to create tension and resolution.

Led Zeppelin – Kashmir – Outro

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Chord Progression

G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G

Chord Progression Analysis

G major (bVII) – A major (I)

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Borrowed Chord: None in this progression
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Similar Chord Progressions

1. The Beatles – “Eleanor Rigby”
Chord progression: C major (I) – E minor (iii) – C major (I)

2. The Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter”
Chord progression: C# minor (i) – B major (VII) – A major (VI)

3. David Bowie – “Heroes”
Chord progression: D major (I) – G major (IV) – A major (V)

These examples provide a taste of similar two-chord or unresolved progressions in other classic rock songs. While they may not be exact matches to the Kashmir outro, they share some structural similarities within their respective context, showcasing how simple chord progressions can be effective.

Musical Analysis

This simple two-chord progression creates an interesting harmonic landscape as it avoids traditional resolutions expected in tonal music. The choice to emphasize an ascent from G major to the A major chord, rather than following a more typical resolution from the dominant chord (E major), provides the track with a distinct modal quality. This harmonic ambiguity is a signature of Eastern music influences, which are quite prevalent in Led Zeppelin’s work.

Overall Analysis

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.

Style Analysis

The signature sound of “Kashmir” stems largely from Led Zeppelin’s ability to blend Western rock with Eastern elements, such as the drone-like quality of this outro. Though the chords themselves are relatively simple, the arrangement and instrumentation are what make this progression shine. The driving percussion, layered strings, and guitar embellishments give this simple progression a powerful, even hypnotic, quality.

Chords in the Outro section of Kashmir by Led Zeppelin are:

G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G, A, G