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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Goodbye Blue Sky” is a song by Pink Floyd from their 1979 album, “The Wall.” It is known for its haunting, ethereal quality, achieved through the use of predominantly minor chords, lush harmonies, and a slow, atmospheric tempo. The song’s lyrics and melancholic mood reflect feelings of loss and desolation.

“Welcome to the Machine” by Pink Floyd is a progressive rock piece that features a rather minimalistic chord progression, with only one chord during the outro. The piece is characterized by its lush soundscape, synthesizer layering, and the use of sound effects to create an atmosphere of a mechanized world.

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“Zombie” by The Cranberries features a relatively commonly used chord progression in pop/rock music, often referred to as a ‘vi-IV-I-V’ progression. This chord progression, in this particular case, is in the key of G Major and is made up of four chords: Em, C, G, and D/F#.

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The Sound Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, released in 1964, is a solid example of folk rock genre transitioning into what we now know as classic rock. The chord progression is straightforward yet powerful, and it perfectly complements the beautifully written lyrics and evocative vocal harmonies. Furthermore, the song is written in A minor, a key that is often associated with sadness, which enhances the melancholic and introspective feelings conveyed by the lyrics.

“Eleanor Rigby’” is a song by The Beatles, released on their 1966 album “Revolver”. Being unusually somber and profound for a pop song, it showcases The Beatles’ expanding musical palette and their desire to move past the conventional parameters of popular music at the time. The song itself is crafted entirely around the key of E minor, with only occasional diversions to the IV chord (C Major). It strongly exhibits the use of Aeolian mode (commonly known as the ‘natural’ minor) and employs string quartet instrumentation, a unique stylistic pattern at that time.

Pink Floyd – Goodbye Blue Sky – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

Am, B/A, Am, A7, D, A, D, Bm, D, Bm

Chord Progression Analysis

A minor (i) – B major/A (VI/iv) – A minor (i) – A dominant 7th (V7) – D major (IV) – A major (I) – D major (IV) – B minor (ii) – D major (IV) – B minor (ii)

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VI/iv = borrowed chord from the parallel minor of the relative major (A major)
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Similar Chord Progressions

1. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles:
A minor (i) – A major (I) – G major (VII) – E minor (v) – D major (IV) – A major (I) – C# minor (iii) – F# minor (vi)

2. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (intro section):
A minor (i) – G sharp diminished 7th (vii°7) – C major (III) – D major (IV) – F major (VI) – A minor (i) – G major (VII) – A minor (i)

While these progressions by The Beatles and Led Zeppelin are not exact matches to “Goodbye Blue Sky,” they share similar harmonic devices and modulations that create a similar sense of movement and emotion.

Musical Analysis

The progression starts with A minor, establishing the key as A minor. The second chord, B major/A, is a borrowed chord (VI/iv) from the parallel minor of the relative major (A major) that creates tension. The progression then returns to A minor before moving to A dominant 7th, functioning as a secondary dominant chord leading to D major, which is a common modulation from A minor to D major (IV).

The progression then moves to A major (I) before repeating D major (IV) and then going to B minor (ii), a diatonic chord in the key of A major. This suggests a shift to the relative major key of A major. Finally, the progression alternates between D major (IV) and B minor (ii) before continuing with the rest of the song.

Overall Analysis

“Goodbye Blue Sky” by Pink Floyd is a beautifully haunting piece with a chord progression that demonstrates their innovative use of borrowed chords and modulation to explore various tonal centers. The song is generally in the key of A minor.

Style Analysis

The chord progression used in “Goodbye Blue Sky” is an example of Pink Floyd’s innovative style when it comes to harmony and modulation. The borrowed chord and the modulation from A minor to D major and then to the relative major key (A major) makes the progression more complex and brings emotional depth to the song. This helps to create the overall haunting atmosphere of the piece.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Goodbye Blue Sky by Pink Floyd are:

Am, B/A, Am, A7, D, A, D, Bm, D, Bm