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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Hurt”, written by Nine Inch Nails, exudes melancholy and despair through a slow progression that weaves intricate melodies between the chords. The tonality is primarily in B minor, but introduces D, E, A, and G chords throughout, indicating some mode mixture or borrowed chord use.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a multi-genre masterpiece that incorporates elements of ballad, opera, and hard rock, showcasing Queen’s versatility and musical potential. The song is mainly in the key of Bb major, but it aggressively utilizes modulations, chromaticism, borrowed chords, and modally mixed chords. The given chord progression is from the verse that follows the opera section, here Queen offers an unusual, nuanced chord progression that complements the surrounding sections.

“Come Together”, released by The Beatles in 1969 on their Abbey Road album, is a rock song known for its catchy bass-line, cryptic lyrics and iconic chorus. It’s written in D minor key, a common key in rock music. Across the progression, there is not only an interesting mix of different chords but also a novel use of borrowed chords that play a significant role in making the song mysterious, intriguing, and unique.

The chord progression in MGMT’s “Congratulations” contains a mix of diatonic and non-diatonic chords, which provide a combination of stability and tension throughout the progression. The harmonic rhythm is slow, and the progression is mostly driven by bass line movement and voice leading. The mixture of borrowed chords, inversions, and suspended chords contributes to the overall unique character of the piece.

Nine Inch Nails – Every Day Is Exactly The Same – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The chord progression in Verse 2 is: E, C, E, C, E, C, G, F (repeated three times, followed by E). Considering that this is based in the key of E minor, the roman numeral analysis, with full chord names would be:

“`
E minor (‘i’), C major (‘VI’), E minor (‘i’), C major (‘VI’), E minor (‘i’), C major (‘VI’), G major (‘III’), F major (‘bII’)
“`
The F major chord is a borrowed chord, often called a ‘Neapolitan chord’. It’s not in the key of E minor but is frequently used in music for its distinctive sound, and to create tension that resolves back to the tonal center. In this case, the F major adds an unexpected twist to the otherwise monotonous progression, before resolving back to E minor.

Similar Chord Progressions

Well-known songs that utilize a similar chord progression, albeit in different keys, include Radiohead’s “Creep” and the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind”. Both songs feature a four-chord progression that includes major chords I, III, VI (flat), and iv.

Radiohead’s “Creep” (G, B, C, Cm) – with roman numerals it is:

“`
G major (‘I’), B major (‘III’), C major (‘IV’), C minor (‘$iv’)
“`

Pixies’s “Where Is My Mind” (E, Abm, A, B):

“`
E major (‘I’), Ab minor (‘biii’), A major (‘IV’), B major (‘V’)
“`

While there aren’t exact matches, they share a similar sense of dissonance through the unusual jumps and additional minor chord present within a major key that is quite akin to the E minor to C major transition seen in “Every Day Is Exactly The Same”.

Musical Analysis

In the context of harmonic analysis, the verse primarily alternates between E minor and C major. This constant alternation creates a sense of unease, in accordance with the song’s theme. The inclusion of G major provides some relief to this tension. The F major chord acts as a tool of surprise, adding to the distressing nature of the song.

Overall Analysis

The song “Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails has a dark and moody atmosphere, characterized by the repetitive chord progression that sets the gloomy tone. This prolific use of chords throughout snippets of the song creates a musical portrait of monotony and disillusion which is reflective of the song’s title and lyrics. Looking at the chords provided from the second verse, this mood is accomplished through the consistent use of minor tonalities and alternation between two power chords – E and C.

Style Analysis

It’s important to note that Nine Inch Nails is known for utilizing dissonance and suspense in their music to create unique and distinctive sounds. This is reflected in the song’s structure and chord progression. Overall, the song’s mood and style are a hallmark of the industrial rock genre, with the repetitive chord sequence underscoring the angst and frustration evident in the lyrics.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Every Day Is Exactly The Same by Nine Inch Nails are:

[‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’]