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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is a dark and provocative piece built upon a relentless, driving chord progression and sinuous melodies. The downbeat feel and chromaticism contribute to the brooding, unsettling mood of the song, which is a hallmark of the industrial rock genre. The piece is in the key of B minor.

The given chord progression is from the song “Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails. The overall structure of the song consists of verses, choruses, and a bridge, each with distinct chord progressions that contribute to the song’s moody, melancholic atmosphere. The song is mostly in the key of E minor, with some borrowed chords from the parallel major key.

The chord progression in Verse 2 of Beck’s “Say Goodbye” showcases a unique blend of chords that are not commonly heard together in popular music. The mix of major, minor, and borrowed chords creates an interesting and engaging sound. Its distinctive quality can be found in the use of the A# major chord, which is not diatonic to the key of G major.

“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a cover of a popular folk-rock song by Fleetwood Mac. In this song, The Smashing Pumpkins show their alternative rock style, while also paying homage to the folk-rock genre and especially to the founder of Folk-Rock “Fleetwood Mac”. The chords used throughout the song are predominantly composed in the key of G major, with the occasional use of a common borrowed chord (Am) from the G minor key.

The progression is in the key of C major. The use of the Bb major is known as modal interchange, where a chord that is not in the key is borrowed from a parallel key, which in this case is C minor. This contributes an interesting tone color to the overall sound. The chord progression does consist a use of slash chords (C/B, C/G) which adds a more complex bassline creating a more harmonically active feeling, and yielding more tension and release.

Nine Inch Nails – Closer – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Cm7’, ‘Cm7’, ‘Cm7’, ‘Cm7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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The chord progression for Verse 2 is:
– Cm7 (‘i7)
– Cm7 (‘i7)
– Cm7 (‘i7)
– Cm7 (‘i7)

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No borrowed chords are present in this progression.
“`

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Similar Chord Progressions

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One song with a somewhat similar chord progression is “Rock + Roll” by EDEN. This song also uses a constant, singular chord through the verse, creating a similar atmospheric quality, though it operates in a major key. The verse chord progression is:
– D (‘I)
– D (‘I)
– D (‘I)
– D (‘I)

Another equivalent progression occurs in The Beatles’ song “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”, which also settles on a single repeated chord (Am) in the primary verse section. This is another example of how a monotonous chord progression can generate a hypnotic, immersive soundscape. The verse chord progression here is:
– Am (‘i)
– Am (‘i)
– Am (‘i)
– Am (‘i)

Musical Analysis

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The Cm7 (‘i7) chord is the tonic of the C minor key. It serves as the home base and provides a sense of resolution to the musical tension. The repetitive usage of the same chord gives the track a hypnotic, drone-like quality, creating an introspective and somber atmosphere. This monotonous progression underlines the lyrics and vocal melody, contributing to the emotional intensity of the song.

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Overall Analysis

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“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails utilizes a relatively simple chord structure, which allows the song to establish a pervasive atmosphere and direct the listener’s focus on the lyrics and melodies. This piece is in the key of C minor, and the chord progression is cyclical in nature, with Verse 2 consisting of the repetition of Cm7 chord throughout.

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Style Analysis

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Nine Inch Nails, known for their industrial rock style, often employ simplistic chord progressions to emphasize their complex rhythmic instrumentation and introspective, often dark, lyrics. The repetition of the Cm7 chord in “Closer” is representative of this approach, as it helps to maintain the gloomy and introspective atmosphere throughout the song.

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Chords in the Verse 2 section of Closer by Nine Inch Nails are:

[‘Cm7’, ‘Cm7’, ‘Cm7’, ‘Cm7’]