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The chord progression in Muse’s Hysteria (verse 2) is a fairly unique progression that revolves around a minor tonality with some hints of E7 acting as a secondary dominant. It seems to have an ambiguous key center, fluctuating between E minor and A minor. The progression is repeated, providing a sense of tension and familiarity throughout the verse.

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.

“Across The Universe” by The Beatles, written mostly by John Lennon, is known for its rich and complex harmonic structures that added new dimensions to pop music. The song is predominately in the key of D major, with occasional borrowings from the parallel minor (D minor) and the closely-related key of B minor. The verse 1 progression – D, Bm, F#m, Em7, A, A7, D, Bm, F#m, Em7, Gm – creates an affectingly melancholic mood through its mix of major, minor and borrowed chords, producing a unique ambience that evokes a sense of cosmic contemplation, matching with the philosophical lyrics of the song.

“Heart Is A Drum” by Beck is a simple, yet emotional and effective piece, written in the key of C major. The chord progression of the verse revolves around the tonic (C) and the subdominant (Dm7), resulting in a gentle, down-to-earth feel, characteristic of Beck’s folk and alternative music influences.

“Ceilings” by Lizzy McAlpine, draws its magic from a mix of interesting chord progressions and different rhythms. The use of added notes in several chords (Cadd9, Emadd9) introduces additional color into the mix, creating a rich and thoughtful atmosphere. The tonality of the song is in G Major, despite the liberal use of the Cadd9 in the progression. We’ll use this tonality for the Roman numerals.

Muse – Hysteria – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

Am, E7, Dm, Am, E7, Dm, Am

Chord Progression Analysis

* A minor (i)
* E7 (V7)
* D minor (iv)
* A minor (i)
* E7 (V7)
* D minor (iv)
* A minor (i)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Karma Police”:
* A minor (i)
* A minor/Maj7 (i/Maj7)
* G (VII)
* D/F# (IV/6)
* E minor (v)
* E (V)
* A minor (i)

2. The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”:
* A minor (i)
* A minor/G (i/7)
* A minor/F# (i/6)
* A minor/F (i/6b)
* D (IV)
* G (VII)
* C (III)
* E (V)

In both of these similar progressions, the use of A minor as the tonic is consistent, and the chords utilized often borrow from other keys or use unexpected variations, resulting in unique harmonic progressions that generate tension and interest.

Musical Analysis

This chord progression uses the A minor as its tonic (home chord), which sets the dark and moody atmosphere of the song. The E7 is a secondary dominant (V7 of the IV, or D minor), used to increase tension and drive the progression forward. The D minor chord serves as a borrowed chord from the parallel key (A major) and provides a unique and unexpected twist, adding more depth to the harmonies.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

This progression has a typical rock feel, mostly because of the instrumentation, arrangement, and slightly unusual chords like the D minor borrowed chord. The repetitive pattern creates a sense of familiarity for the listener while still weaving in distinctive characteristics to maintain interest.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Hysteria by Muse are:

Am, E7, Dm, Am, E7, Dm, Am