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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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.

“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.

“Hey You” by Pink Floyd is a progressive rock song from the concept album “The Wall.” The song is characterized by its atmospheric sound created through a combination of acoustic and electric guitars, haunting vocals, and a variety of effects. The chord progression of Verse 3 is interesting as it features a mix of diatonic chords, borrowed chords, and extensions such as the add9 chords that contribute to the song’s unique sound.

Let It Happen’ by Tame Impala employs an accessible and effective chord progression, usual in pop/rock music, yet has unusualness due to the usage of the G#sus4 chord, providing a unique tonal flavor and emotional quality. There is a striking use of harmonic contrast and a continuous return and release of tension throughout the song. This creates an immersive cyclical quality, complementing the song’s theme of embracing inevitable moments and experiences.

The chord progression can be divided into three main sections (please see the details below). The first section is based around the I chord (C), the second section introduces the IV chord (F), then it returns to the I chord. The third section introduces a borrowed chord (bVII – Bb from C Mixolydian), a V chord (G), then returns to the I chord with a brief excursion back to the V chord. There is repetition in this section with the return to the I chord.

Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

D Major (I) – E Major (V)

“`d- e- d- e- d- e- d- e- d- e- d- e- d- e- d- e- d- e- d- e- d“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Smokestack Lightning” by Howlin’ Wolf (1956)
Chord Progression: C Major (I) – D Major (V)

2. “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones (1965)
Chord Progression: E Major (I) – D Major (IV) – A Major (V) – E Major (I)

3. “All Day and All of the Night” by The Kinks (1964)
Chord Progression: G Major (I) – A Major (V)

Musical Analysis

“Whole Lotta Love” utilizes the two-chord progression of D Major and E Major. The D Major chord serves as the tonic (I) chord, giving listeners a sense of resolution and stability. The E Major chord is the dominant (V) chord, which produces tension and propels the progression forward. The shift between these two chords creates a bluesy, yet hard rock sound, a distinctive characteristic of the song.

Overall Analysis

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin is a hard rock song that was released in 1969. The song features a famous guitar riff with a simple, blues-influenced chord progression. That guitar riff is based on the D and E chords and can be heard throughout the main part of the song. The verse consists of the same primary chords as the riff, with slight variations in the E chord during the iconic “You need cooling” vocal part. The overall harmonic structure of the song with its repeating chords D and E gives it a strong I-V dynamic while staying in the D Mixolydian mode. Additionally, the guitar riff borrows elements of other blues progressions, creating a distinguished sound.

Style Analysis

The style of “Whole Lotta Love” is firmly rooted in the hard rock and blues tradition. The repetitive, heavy guitar riff played throughout the song and the driving rhythm section grounds it in this stylistic framework. The simple, two-chord progression allows the band to maintain an aggressive, driving sound while also highlighting individual instruments, such as the guitar riff, and the vocal performance. Additionally, the structure of the song is somewhat reminiscent of a 12-bar blues, but with a unique twist that sets it apart from traditional blues pieces.

Chords in the Verse 3 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, E, D, E, D