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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The given chord progression is from the verse of Pink Floyd’s “Breathe,” a song from their 1973 album, “The Dark Side of the Moon.” The progression consists of alternating Em and A7 chords throughout the entire verse. This creates a sense of movement and tension between the chords while also being relatively simple and repetitive. The harmonic back-and-forth between these two chords gives the song a dreamy and immersive quality that is a signature sound of Pink Floyd’s style.

“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd is a classic rock ballad from their 1975 album of the same name. The song features an introspective and expressive melody with a predominantly acoustic instrumentation. The chord progression for Verse 2 demonstrates a blend of diatonic and non-diatonic chords, with borrowed chords from parallel modes, which adds to the emotional depth of the piece.

“Just The Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. is an easy-listening song, falling under R&B and jazz genres. It’s a classic example of the use of major 7th, dominant 7th, and minor 7th chords to create a rich, smooth harmonic texture. The chord progression is quite repetitive and follows a mixture of diatonic and chromatic movement.

“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak utilizes a repetitive three-chord-per-measure progression throughout the song. It is notable for its haunting, melancholic, and mysteriously romantic sound largely because of its repeated progression and very carefully chosen blend of major and minor chords, within the key signature of B minor.

“Stairway to Heaven” is a progressive rock song by Led Zeppelin, released in 1971. The song showcases a movement between different styles and musical settings, as it starts with a gentle, fingerpicked acoustic section and gradually evolves into a powerful and climactic electric guitar solo, finishing with a full-band finale. The song is characterized by its ascending progression and intricate chord changes, which contribute to its unique and haunting atmosphere. The verse 1 chord progression features a blend of diatonic and chromatic elements, borrowed chords, and inversions, which create a sense of tension and resolution throughout the progression.

Pink Floyd – Breathe – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

Em, A7, Em, A7, Em, A7, Em, A7

Chord Progression Analysis

Em (i), A7 (IV7)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
Am (i), G#7 (V7)

2. “Hotel California” by Eagles
Bm (i), F#7 (V7)

3. “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd
Bm (i), A7 (IV7)

These songs share a similar structure, using a minor tonic and a borrowed, dominant seventh chord. This helps create a sense of tension and resolution that is common to these styles of music, and contributes to their emotional impact.

Musical Analysis

The verse consists of an 8-chord sequence that alternates between the tonic chord, Em (i), a minor chord, and a borrowed, dominant seventh chord, A7 (IV7), which is borrowed from the parallel major key (E major). This borrowed chord creates a sense of tension and expectation, which is then resolved when the progression returns to the tonic chord, Em. This alternation between tension and resolution creates a sense of movement and contributes to the dreamy atmosphere of the song.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in “Breathe” by Pink Floyd is relatively simple, mostly alternating between two chords – Em and A7. However, this simplicity is quite effective in creating a relaxed, dreamy feel which is consistent with the overall theme of the song. This is a characteristic feature of Pink Floyd’s music, using simple chords and progressions to create a powerful emotional impact.

Style Analysis

The use of a simple and repetitive chord progression is characteristic of Pink Floyd’s relaxed, psychedelic rock style. Their music often features few chords and simple progressions, while focusing more on the arrangement, instrumentation, and emotional impact of the song. This reflects the influence of blues and folk music on their songwriting, both of which rely heavily on simple chord progressions.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Breathe by Pink Floyd are:

Em, A7, Em, A7, Em, A7, Em, A7