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“Feeling Good” by Muse is a cover of the song originally written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1964 musical “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd”. Muse’s version is characterized by its distinct blend of jazz, rock, and pop influences, with strong orchestration and stylistically unique elements that give the song a modern edge while still paying homage to its classic roots.

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.

The chord progression for the verse of “Electric Feel” by MGMT is based in the key of C major. The progression mainly revolves around the use of i, v, VI, and VII chords. The song has a hypnotic, cyclic feel that is characteristic of the neo-psychedelic genre, with touches of funk and dance music elements.

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John is a heart-touching love song that carries a smooth flowing blend of pop and soft rock, showing Elton John’s inclination to use diatonic (major and minor) chords, 7th chords and inversions. The song, largely stays in its home key of C major, has an interesting chord progression that shifts between the tonic, subdominant, and dominant. Internally, there are multiple secondary dominant chords and borrowing from the parallel minor, providing color and contrast.

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“Girl” is a song by The Beatles from their 1965 album “Rubber Soul”. The song is written in the key of E minor and it showcases the band’s ability to incorporate non-diatsubject resorting to non-diatonic progressions and utilizes various seventh chords to establish a more sophisticated and jazzy soundid progression. It’s important to note their use of the Dorian mode, which adds to the melodic and harmonic sophistication of the song. Moreover, the song exhibits the lyrical and songwriting depth of The Beatles.

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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