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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 a progressive rock piece with acoustic guitar and vocal harmony that creates a haunting and atmospheric sound. The chord progression in Verse 2 demonstrates the use of non-diatonic chords, pedal tones, and borrowed chords, giving it a sense of tension and release. This unique combination of chords contributes to the overall distinctive mood of the song.

“Hey You” by Pink Floyd is a prog-rock song featured on their iconic album, “The Wall.” Its chord progression showcases a unique blend of chords that creates a sense of yearning and emotional intensity. The use of borrowed chords from parallel keys enhances the song’s emotive quality, and the overall structure shows a level of harmonic sophistication typical of Pink Floyd’s work.

This iconic Britpop song predominantly features the use of traditional tonal harmony found in pop songs throughout the late 20th century, and the verse specifically recalls the harmonic patterns utilized in the 1950s and 60s. The defining feature of this song (as is the case with many Oasis tunes) is the use of returning, resounding repetitions of simple chord sequences.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is a psychedelic rock song often regarded as one of their finest works. It’s innovative from both a melodic and harmonic perspective, using complex chord structures, chromatic touches, and key changes. The song is primarily in the key of E major.

The chord progression in “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is primarily centered around the Cm7 chord throughout the verses and pre-choruses, with the chorus briefly moving to the F major chord before returning back to Cm7. The song is in the key of C minor, and the chords used are mostly diatonic to the key, creating a dark and somewhat haunting atmosphere. The progression is simplistic but effective, establishing a strong sense of forward motion and tension that is fitting for the industrial rock style of the song.

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