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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.

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“Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails has an interesting chord progression, particularly in the bridge, which adopts a distinct pattern of E, A, C, G repeatedly. This song is classified under Industrial Rock and utilizes repetition impressively to create a sense of monotony and frustration, akin to the lyrical theme.

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“Cant Buy Me Love” by The Beatles, is a song in the key of C Major, but it has an interesting harmonic structure, especially in the chorus. The song features a number of borrowed and secondary dominant chords to create tension that resolves into the tonic chord. The chorus’s progression can be seen as a series of descending minor thirds, with an unexpected shift to a ii-V-I progression which is quite popular in jazz music.

The chord progression in the chorus of Radiohead’s “Knives Out” is an interesting and unconventional one, making use of some borrowed chords and a mix of major and minor tonalities. The overall style of the song can be described as alternative rock with some influences of jazz harmony and chromaticism, creating a unique and moody atmosphere. The progression is mostly diatonic, but it also incorporates some borrowed chords from parallel modes to add color and tension.

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“Little Sister” by Queens of the Stone Age is based in the rock genre, featuring a simple melody with strong rhythmic components, built on a mix of power, suspended and major chords. The use of the C#5 and G#5/D# chords in the verses and the F#sus4-E-G#sus4 repetition in the chorus indicate an overall key signature of F# minor.

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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