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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“A Star Is Born – Shallow” by Misc Soundtrack uses common chords found in pop music and combines them in a fresh way. The progression makes use of diatonic chords and even includes a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key. It showcases a feasible balance of tension and resolution, often transitioning through a variety of chord inversions to add color and depth to the harmonies. The song moves around the circle of fifths, which allows for smooth transitions between keys.

The song “A Star Is Born – Shallow” is written in the key of G Major, giving it a bright, uplifting tonality. This is a common key in pop and rock music for its simplicity and ease of play for guitarists and vocalists alike. The repetitive chord progression consistently lands on familiar territory for listeners, contributing to the song’s catchiness.

“Rocket Man” by Elton John is primarily in the key of Bb minor (the verses and chorus), but its outro transposes to the key of C Major, which gives a sensation of resolution. The chord progression in the Outro is a simple two-chord progression (I – V), which is extremely common in all styles of music and impacts the listener with its familiarity and stability.

“Think I’m In Love” by Beck is a pop-infused indie rock piece that features an easy-going, catchy melody and a simple yet effective chord progression. The use of repetitive chords throughout the Outro creates a sense of stability and familiarity. The Outro builds upon the tonal center of F Major established earlier in the song and prolongs the tonic, adding to the song’s overall sense of closure and resolution.

The song “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails has a tonal center around the key of B minor, as it is the most prominently featured chord in both the verse and chorus sections. The verse features a simple three-chord progression (Bm-D-E), and the chorus introduces additional chords (G, A). The outro mainly repeats the chords from the verse. The style of the piece can be characterized as haunting, melancholic, and somewhat minimalistic with only a few chords creating the harmonic landscape.

Misc Soundtrack – A Star Is Born – Shallow – Outro

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Em’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The provided outro chord progression in the key of G Major would translate to the following chords and roman numerals:
“`
Am (ii), D (V), G (I), D (V), Em (vi), Am (ii), D (V), G (I), D (V), Em (vi), Em (vi)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

The I-V-vi-IV progression is incredibly common in popular music. Here are few examples:
– “Let It Be” by The Beatles: C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV)
– “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley: C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV)
– “Someone like You” by Adele: A (I), E (V), F#m (vi), D (IV)

The vi-ii-V-I progression, not as common as the I-V-vi-IV, can still be found in songs like:
– “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen uses a similar progression in the key of E minor: Em (i), Am (iv), B7 (V7), Em (i)

Also, the use of a borrowed chord like Bm in the key of G major occurs in songs like:
– “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi, where he uses a borrowed chord Bm in the key of C# minor.

Musical Analysis

Am, D, and G form a standard ii-V-I progression in the key of G Major. The song teeters between G major and it’s relative minor, Em, which gives it its emotionally charged and melancholic feel.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

The style of this cinematic song embraces its pop roots with a simple, repetitious chord progression, which is characteristic of many modern pop songs. However, it also employs a touch of complexity and unexpectedness with the borrowed Bm chord, reminiscent of folk or blues.

Chords in the Outro section of A Star Is Born – Shallow by Misc Soundtrack are:

[‘Am’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Em’]