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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Feeling Good” by Muse is a cover of the original song written by English composers Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley in 1964. The Muse version was released in 2001 and is featured on their second studio album, “Origin of Symmetry.” The song is heavily influenced by the genres of jazz, soul, and R&B, while the Muse rendition adds a more modern rock sound to the mix.

The chord progression in the verse of “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse features a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, primarily from the G# minor and E major keys. The progression features an interesting blend of major and minor chords, chromatic movement, and modulation, contributing to the epic and powerful sound of the track.

“Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones is a classic rock song heavily influenced by country and blues. The song is characterized by both major and minor chords, primarily G, C, A, and D. The song is in the key of G major from the verse 1 progression you provided, and it has elements of both I-IV-V and I-V-vi-IV.

Verse 1

“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead is a melancholic song with an emotional chord progression. The song is in the key of A Major and features a mixture of diatonic chords, suspended chords, and extended chords that create a sense of yearning and tension. The verse is characterized by a cyclical progression that begins and ends on the tonic (A), providing a sense of unresolved tension. This helps to support the song’s themes of artificiality and dissatisfaction.

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is in the key of A minor and quite uniquely, the song borrows chords from parallel major and minor keys, as well as from modes like mixolydian. It is one of George Harrison’s contributions to the Beatles and showcases sophisticated harmonic techniques and an intricate chordal design, reflecting deeply on the influence of Eastern music and philosophies on his songwriting.

Muse – Feeling Good – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

Gm, Gm/F, Eb, D, Gm, Gm/F, Eb, D, Gm, Gm/F, C/E, Cm/Eb

Chord Progression Analysis

G minor (i) – G minor/F (i/6) – E-flat Major (VI) – D Major (V) – G minor (i) – G minor/F (i/6) – E-flat Major (VI) – D Major (V) – G minor (i) – G minor/F (i/6) – C Major/E (IV/6) – C minor/E-flat (iv/6)

Borrowed Chord: `C Major (IV)`

Similar Chord Progressions

Musical Analysis

The verse starts with a G minor chord, followed by G minor/F – an inversion that adds a sense of forward motion. The E-flat major provides a smooth transition to the D Major, which is the dominant chord in the G minor key. This dominant chord creates tension before resolving back to the G minor. The pattern repeats once more with the exception of the last two chords.

The transition from G minor/F to C Major/E introduces a borrowed chord – C Major (IV), which implies a temporary shift to the parallel major key. The progression then smoothly transitions to C minor/E-flat (iv/6), reinforcing the minor tonality of the key. Finally, the verse ends on the dominant (V) to iv/6 progression, which establishes the tonality and creates a sense of anticipation that leads into the next section of the song.

Style Notes:
This chord progression showcases Muse’s unique stylistic blend, combining elements of soul, jazz, and rock music. The use of inversions, borrowed chords, and chromatic movement adds depth and interest to the progression, while the cyclical nature and smooth transitions create a sense of unity throughout the verse. The combination of these stylistic elements contributes to the overall impact of the song and its memorable quality.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in Muse’s “Feeling Good” is in the key of G minor and showcases an interesting and creative use of borrowed chords and inversions. The progression follows a cyclical pattern that creates tension and release throughout the verse. The style is reminiscent of soul and jazz influences with a hint of rock elements, which is a common characteristic in Muse’s music.

Style Analysis

1. Radiohead – “Exit Music (For a Film)”
Chord progression: Am (i) – Am/G (i/6) – F (VI) – E (V) – Am (i) – Am/G (i/6) – F (VI) – E (V) – Am (i) – Am/G (i/6) – D/F# (IV/6) – Dm/F (iv/6)

2. Amy Winehouse – “Back to Black”
Chord progression: Dm (i) – Dm/C (i/6) – Bb (VI) – A7 (V7) – Dm (i) – Dm/C (i/6) – Bb (VI) – A7 (V7) – Dm (i) – Dm/C (i/6) – G/B (IV/6) – Gm/Bb (iv/6)

In these examples, similar elements such as the use of inversions, borrowed chords, and smooth transitions between chords can be observed. These progressions also showcase a blend of different styles and genres that contribute to their distinct sound and impact.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Feeling Good by Muse are:

Gm, Gm/F, Eb, D, Gm, Gm/F, Eb, D, Gm, Gm/F, C/E, Cm/Eb