Nine Inch Nails – Something I Can Never Have – Verse
Something I Can Never Have < All Analyses
Chord Progression
C, C, C, Em, F, C/G, Em, F
Chord Progression Analysis
Verse – C Major (I), C Major (I), C Major (I), E Minor (iii), F Major (IV), C Major/G (I6/4), E Minor (iii), F Major (IV)
Similar Chord Progressions
1. Radiohead – “Karma Police”
Verse: A Minor (i), A Minor7/G (i7/6), D Major/F# (IV/5), Eminor7 (v7)
2. The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Verse: A Minor (i), A Minor/G (i6), A Minor/F# (i/5), A Minor/F (i/2)
Bridge: F Major (VI), Dminor/B, G_major/A (VII), A Minor (i), G Major (VII)
3. Depeche Mode – “Enjoy the Silence”
Chorus: D Major (I), A/C# (V6), E/G# (II6), G7 (IV7), A7sus (V7sus), A7 (V7)
Musical Analysis
The verse starts with three repetitions of the C Major chord, establishing a sense of stability. Moving to E Minor, there is a sudden shift in mood due to the chord being a minor third. Continuing on to the F Major chord, this serves as a subdominant with the V chord being absent in this progression. Subsequently, the piece moves to the C Major chord with G in the bass (C Major/G), which adds a descending bass line from the previous F Major chord. Then, the E Minor and F Major chords reappear, concluding the verse in a cyclical structure.
Overall Analysis
“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.
Style Analysis
This chord progression is representative of the unique style that Nine Inch Nails brought to the alternative rock and industrial rock styles of the late ’80s and early ’90s. The combination of major and minor chords in close proximity creates a sense of emotional instability, while the use of a descending bass line provides a sense of consistency throughout the piece. The melancholic arrangement and sparsity of chords have become a hallmark of the band’s signature sound.
What are the chords in: Nine Inch Nails – Something I Can Never Have – Verse?
C, C, C, Em, F, C/G, Em, F
