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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 chorus of Muse’s “Hysteria” displays a mix of chords from the key of C Major and borrowed chords from the parallel minor key (C minor). The chord progression uses a combination of functional harmony mixed with chromatic elements, embodying characteristics of both rock and classical genres.

“Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock song featuring a cyclic chord progression in the key of E major. The song is well-known for its distinctive and temporarily ambiguous harmonic structure, bluesy vocal melodies, and Jimi Hendrix’s influential guitar playing. The verse chord progression constantly circles back on itself, creating a hypnotic effect.

The chord progression of “Say Goodbye” by Beck uses a combination of diatonic and borrowed chords within the key of G major. The verse features a total of 8 chords: G major, A# major, A minor, and C major. The use of a borrowed chord (A# major) adds an interesting twist to the progression and provides a unique color to the harmony.

“Hysteria” by Muse is a song with a heavy rock style, featuring a powerful bassline and distorted guitars. The chord progression mentioned is present in the first verse of the song. This progression is characterized by the use of standard tonal harmony and minor key tonality, with some slight variations that are typical in rock music.

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