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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Knights of Cydonia” by Muse features a harmonically straightforward chord progression within the rock style. This progression is primarily based in the key of E minor and centers around the Em, Bm, and A chords. Throughout the song, the driving rhythm, vocal melodies, and transitions between different sections contribute to its energetic and dramatic qualities.

“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.

“I Sat By The Ocean” by Queens of the Stone Age employs multiple chords which creates a complex and engaging harmony in the verse. The song is in the key G# major and it uses multiple borrowed chords from other keys. It’s worth noting that Queens of the Stone Age has a distinct sound that incorporates elements of stoner rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock into their material. Sizeable use of power chords that gives the song its heavy rock feel.

The chord progression in the verse of “Help!” by The Beatles is quite characteristic of their style, using common chords but in interesting and unusual ways. The verse of “Help!” notably presents a mix of classic pop chord progression (I-vi-ii-V), secondary dominant chords and chromatic progressions. The Beatles often incorporated novel harmonic structures that added depth and complexity to their pop music, as evidenced in this piece.

The progression starts on the suspended II chord of the key, which anticipates resolution either to the tonic (E major) or the supertonic (F# minor). However, it instead moves to the dominant minor (C# minor), suggesting a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (E minor). The D major chord which concludes the progression is a borrowed II from E minor as well.

Muse – Knights Of Cydonia – Verse

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Chord Progression

G#m, B, E, B, D#, E, G, B, Em, B, C, G, B, C, G, B, Em

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
G#m (i),
B (III),
E (VI),
B (III),
D# (V),
E (VI),
G (bV),
B (III),
Em (v),
B (III),
C (bIV),
G (bV),
B (III),
C (bIV),
G (bV),
B (III),
Em (v)
“`

Borrowed Chords:
“`
G (bV), C (bIV)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”
“`
Am (i),
E (V),
G (bVII),
D (IV),
C (bIII),
E (V),
Bm (v),
F# (V),
Dm (iv))
“`

2. Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody” (verse)
“`
Bb (I),
Bb7 (V7),
Eb (IV),
Bb7 (V7),
Bbsus2 (Isus2),
Cm (ii),
F (V),
Bb (I),
Dm (iii),
Gm (vi),
C7 (V7),
F7 (IV7),
Bb (I))
“`

These songs also feature complex and unconventional chord progressions, incorporating borrowed chords, key shifts, and chromatic movement. They similarly incorporate elements of progressive rock and symphonic rock in their compositions, drawing parallels to “Knights of Cydonia.”

Musical Analysis

This progression starts in the key of G# minor with G#m (i), followed by B (III) from the same key. The progression then shifts to E major with E (VI). It then returns to B (III), which can also function as the V chord of E major, creating a sense of ambiguity between the two keys.

The next set of chords features a chromatic movement from D# (V) to E (VI) and then down to G (bV), a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (G# natural minor). The progression then returns to B (III) before temporarily shifting to the key of E minor with Em (v) and B (III).

This is followed by another set of borrowed chords, C (bIV) and G (bV), both from the E natural minor key, adding further tension to the progression. The progression then alternates between B (III) and these borrowed chords before concluding with Em (v).

Overall Analysis

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.

Style Analysis

“Knights of Cydonia” showcases Muse’s signature progressive rock and symphonic rock influences, with its dramatic chord progression, large dynamic shifts, and intricate arrangement. The use of modulation and borrowed chords further adds to the epic, cinematic quality of the track, which is a common feature in Muse’s music.

Chords in the Verse section of Knights Of Cydonia by Muse are:

G#m, B, E, B, D#, E, G, B, Em, B, C, G, B, C, G, B, Em