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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is in the key of B major, evident from the chords in the verse, pre-chorus, and bridge sections. The chord progression in the chorus introduces a borrowed chord from parallel minor, displaying elements of modal mixture. The style of the song features heavy electronic elements, industrial rock aesthetic, and a dark and seductive atmosphere.

The song “Every Day is Exactly the Same” by Nine Inch Nails is in E minor key. The chord progression found in the chorus consists mainly of common chords found in the E minor key, along with a couple of borrowed chords from E major. The use of borrowed chords adds unique color and tension to the music.

The chord progression of the chorus in Beck’s “Girl Acoustic” is relatively simple and straightforward, yet effective in creating a memorable and catchy tune. The song is in the key of A major, and the progression maintains a predominantly diatonic harmony.

“Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones is a rock ballad with a minor tonality and is composed in the key of G major. The song incorporates the use of modal interchange, more commonly referred to as borrowed chords, from the parallel minor. This common technique in rock music contributes to the melancholic and emotionally resonant feeling of the song.

The song “Space Oddity” by David Bowie features a complex and varied chord progression that incorporates elements of both traditional and experimental popular music. The song is in the key of C Major, and its progression is characterized by the use of modal interchange, or the borrowing of chords from parallel scales. This is indicative of Bowie’s varied musical influences, combining elements of folk, rock, and pop while also incorporating experimental techniques associated with progressive rock.

Nine Inch Nails – Closer – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘F’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Cm7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Now, let’s break down the specific chords used in the chorus:

“`F Major (‘IV’)
C Minor 7 (‘i7’)“`

The F chord represents the IV (major fourth) in C minor key. A typical feature of pop music is the extensive use of borrowed chords, which are chords borrowed from the parallel major or minor scale. However, in this case, the F and Cm7 are both diatonic to (or naturally occurring in) the key of C minor – no borrowed chords here. The simplicity of this pattern brought by the repetition of F and the use of a single minor 7th chord adds to the hypnotic, transfixing quality of the song.

Similar Chord Progressions

The Taylor Swift song “Shake It Off” uses a similar progression, although in a different key, repeating the same chord for four measures (C/G) before switching to a minor 7th (Am7).

Shake It Off’s Chorus:

“`C/G Major (‘I’)
A Minor 7 (‘vi7’)“`

Bear in mind that the use of this progression and how it’s alike is only on a surface level – the genre, arrangement, and mood of these songs are highly distinctive.

Musical Analysis

The deliberate use of a mere two chords emphasizes droning and simplicity. It is indicative of the industrial genre which Nine Inch Nails represents. The chords are played on synthesizers, adding layers of sonic texture to them. This synthesizer-centered approach is a defining feature of most industrial and electronic music, which Nine Inch Nails helped to pioneer.

Overall Analysis

The chorus of “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is built around a progression that oscillates between a single major chord, F, and a single minor seventh chord, Cm7. This is quite minimalistic. Major chords usually have a happy, positive feel, while minor chords induce a somewhat sad, introspective mood. The use of C minor 7th gives a particular color to the progression: it’s a minor chord with an added minor seventh, which means it’s a bit less stable than a regular minor chord.

Style Analysis

Nine Inch Nails’ style in “Closer” is intensified by the alternating pattern of two chords, establishing a steady backdrop for the lyrics and melody. This adds to the song’s atmosphere, a brooding yet vibrant setting. Nine Inch Nails is known for their aggressive, dark industrial sound, and “Closer”, despite its seemingly simple cornerstone, is no different.

Chords in the Chorus section of Closer by Nine Inch Nails are:

[‘F’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘F’, ‘Cm7’]