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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails features a haunting and melancholic chord progression typical of the alternative rock and industrial rock genres. The tonality of the piece centers around the key of C major, with occasional borrowed chords and chromaticism adding emotional color and tension. The verse and chorus sections both feature a similar pattern of repeating chords as well as a descending bass line connecting the chords, giving the piece cohesion.

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.

Vance Joy’s “Riptide” is a remarkably simple yet highly effective song written in the key of C Major. The song follows a repetitive I-vi-IV chord progression, which is only varied in the bridge where a minor seventh chord introduces tension before leading back to the song’s major tonality.

The song “Ceilings” by Lizzy McAlpine is in the key of G Major, employing a mixture of major, minor, and additive chords to create a progression that lends itself to a pop/folk atmosphere. The song is largely composed of diatonic chords in the key of G Major, with an occasional use of a B7, which can be seen as a secondary dominant to Em.

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, is characterized by a lush, cinematic melody that encapsulates John’s knack for crafting pop ballad choruses. Its base key is D Major, showcasing a mix of diatonic, dominant seventh, and borrowed chords. Its diverse chord progression is reflective of Elton John’s diverse influences, which include pop, rock, blues, and classical music.

Nine Inch Nails – Something I Can Never Have – Chorus

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Chord Progression

C, Em, F, C/G, Em, F, C, Em, F, C/G, Em, F, Bb, Fmaj7, Ab

Chord Progression Analysis

C Major (I) – E Minor (iii) – F Major (IV) – C Major/G (I6/4) – E Minor (iii) – F Major (IV) – C Major (I) – E Minor (iii) – F Major (IV) – C Major/G (I6/4) – E Minor (iii) – F Major (IV) – Bb Major (bVII) – F Major7 (IVmaj7) – Ab Major (bVI)

Borrowed Chords:
Bb Major (bVII) and Ab Major (bVI) are borrowed chords from the parallel minor key (C Minor).

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Creep” by Radiohead – C Major (I) – E Minor (iii) – F Major (IV) – F Minor (iv)
2. “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode – C Major (I) – D Minor (ii) – F Major (IV) – Ab Major (bVI) – G Major (V)

As seen, these examples also utilize borrowed chords and the mixture of major and minor chords to create an unsettled and emotional atmosphere. Note that these progressions are not identical but share similarities in their use of chords and tonality.

Musical Analysis

The song starts with the verse in C Major, which acts as the tonal center. The verse progresses from C Major to E Minor, creating a sense of tension as the Em chord is a iii chord, which has a less stable quality. The F Major chord adds further tension as it’s the IV chord in the progression. The C/G is a C Major chord in second inversion (I6/4), and its usage adds a nice bass movement to the progression. As the progression moves from C Major to E Minor and then to F Major again, the tension builds up until the arrival of the borrowed chords Bb Major and Ab Major towards the end of the progression. These borrowed chords, together with the Fmaj7, add further color and rhythmic interest to the song.

Overall Analysis

“Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails is a song with a dark and moody atmosphere. The chord progression in both the verse and chorus of the song features certain borrowed chords and chromatic tones that give the piece this distinctive quality. The song seems to be in the key of C Major, but certain chords from the parallel minor key (C Minor) are used to create a sense of tension and emotional turmoil.

Style Analysis

“Something I Can Never Have” is characterized by its dark and haunting atmosphere, which is largely resulting from its chord progression and the use of borrowed chords. The fluctuation between diatonic chords and the two borrowed chords creates a sense of unease and desolation, which is a common trait in Nine Inch Nails’ music. The incorporation of both major and minor chords contributes to the emotional turmoil experienced throughout the song.

Chords in the Chorus section of Something I Can Never Have by Nine Inch Nails are:

C, Em, F, C/G, Em, F, C, Em, F, C/G, Em, F, Bb, Fmaj7, Ab