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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin is a classic rock song with a strong blues influence. It features a heavy riff-based progression and a powerful vocal performance by Robert Plant. The song is in the key of E Mixolydian, a mode based on the fifth degree of the A Major scale, and exhibits a heavy use of syncopation, pentatonic scales, and chromaticism throughout its structure. The rich harmonic language and distorted guitar tone makes the song an excellent example of the emerging Hard Rock and Heavy Metal styles of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin is a classic example of hard rock and blues rock, characterized by its driving rhythm, distorted guitar riff, and powerful vocal performance by Robert Plant. The harmonic structure of the song is relatively simple, with a focus on the blues-based E-D-E progression during the second chorus. Although seemingly basic, this progression contributes to the song’s raw, energetic vibe.

“Goodbye Blue Sky” is a song by Pink Floyd from their 1979 album “The Wall.” It is a progressive rock piece with acoustic guitar and vocal harmony that creates a haunting and atmospheric sound. The chord progression in Verse 2 demonstrates the use of non-diatonic chords, pedal tones, and borrowed chords, giving it a sense of tension and release. This unique combination of chords contributes to the overall distinctive mood of the song.

The chord progression in MGMT’s “Congratulations” contains a mix of diatonic and non-diatonic chords, which provide a combination of stability and tension throughout the progression. The harmonic rhythm is slow, and the progression is mostly driven by bass line movement and voice leading. The mixture of borrowed chords, inversions, and suspended chords contributes to the overall unique character of the piece.

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“Viva la Vida” mostly utilizes a four-chord progression thorough the song which is fairly common in popular music. The verse we are focusing on replicating the verse goes like this: C – D – G – Em. The chord progressions are pretty simple, catchy and give the song an uplifting feel.

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Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D

Chord Progression Analysis

– D5 (‘bVII5)
– E5 (‘I5)

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D5: Borrowed chord from E Dorian
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Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Sunshine Of Your Love” by Cream:
– D5 (‘bVII5)
– E5 (‘I5)

2. “La Grange” by ZZ Top:
– A5 (‘I5)
– G5 (‘bVII5)

3. “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin:
– A5 (‘I5)
– G5 (‘bVII5)
– D5 (‘IV5)

4. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses (intro riff):
– D5 (‘bVII5)
– E5 (‘I5)

As shown, several other blues-rock songs feature similar chord progressions, often revolving around power chords and the Mixolydian mode. The usage of the bVII chord, in particular, gives these songs a bluesy and edgy feel.

Musical Analysis

Though simple in structure, the driving rhythm and energy of the riff keep the listeners engaged throughout the song. The use of the power chord (E5) without the third allows for an ambiguous harmonic quality, giving the song its heavy rock sound.

The bVII chord, in this case, the D5, creates a strong pull back to the tonic, E5. It is important to note the use of the borrowed chord D5 from the E Dorian mode, which adds tension and bluesy character in the riff.

Overall Analysis

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin is characterized by its distinctive blues-rock style and its highly memorable, driving riff. The bulk of the song revolves around the E5 (E power) chord, with occasional transitions to the D5 chord at the beginning of each phrase, giving the song a simple yet highly effective chord progression. The song is in the key of E Mixolydian.

Style Analysis

“Whole Lotta Love” is a perfect example of Led Zeppelin’s signature style, combining elements of blues and rock in a way that is both original and definitively Zeppelin. The simple yet effective use of the power chords and the Mixolydian mode, with a touch of the Dorian mode, gives this song its recognizable blues-rock feel.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin are:

D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D, E, D