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“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.

The chorus of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” is a perfect example of their signature sound, combining both rock and progressive elements. The harmonic structure is simple yet effective, providing a sense of resolution and stability throughout the progression. This, combined with the smooth melodic lines, gives listeners a feeling of being “comfortably numb.”

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Looking at the entire song and isolating the verse, the chord progression provided shows a rock style often seen in Queens of the Stone Age compositions. The harmonic language of this song and its progression style fall within the realm of Pop / Rock music, with frequent use of minor chords suggesting a somber or introspective mood. On first glance, it appears to contain chords primarily from the key of F# minor, with no obvious borrowings from other keys. However, a closer inspection will allow us to delve deeper into their harmonic function.

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“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones is a popular song from the mid-60s that features a mix of major and minor chords along with modulations between closely related keys. The overall harmonic structure shares similarities with other rock and pop songs of that era, including The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

Base Key and

“Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones is performed in the key of G major. However, the initial chord progression beginning on B minor gives it a modal feel, specifically borrowing chords from G Lydian mode (IV of D Major). It’s an interesting mixture of folky rock with a touch of the blues, and the chord progression is largely based around the typical I-IV-V progression found in many rock songs, but with many deviations and additions.

Key: G Major

Pink Floyd – Goodbye Blue Sky – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

D, A7/D, G/D, D, A7/D, G/D, D, D, Am/D

Chord Progression Analysis

D (I) – A7/D (V7/IV) – G/D (IV) – D (I) – A7/D (V7/IV) – G/D (IV) – D (I) – D (I) – Am/D (i/IV)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. The Beatles – “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
Chord progression: A (I) – A7 (V7) – D (IV) – Bb (bIII) – A (I)

2. Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”
Chord progression: Gm (i) – Cm/G (iv) – A7 (V7/V) – D (V) – Gm (i)

In both examples, non-diatonic chords and borrowed chords are used similarly to “Goodbye Blue Sky.” These chord progressions create a sense of tension and release, contributing to their respective atmospheric and emotional soundscapes.

Musical Analysis

The verse progression follows a prevalent pattern in popular music: I-IV-I. The D, G/D, and A7/D chords serve as the primary harmony for this verse in the key of D major. However, there is a notable non-diatonic chord – Am/D. This borrowed chord comes from D minor (the parallel minor) and is used to create an unexpected shift in harmony and add a sense of tension in the music. The pedal tone (the constant D note in the bass) also contributes to the overall sense of stability while allowing the chords above to change their tonality.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

“Goodbye Blue Sky” showcases Pink Floyd’s signature style of progressive rock with elements of folk and psychedelic rock. The use of acoustic guitar and vocal harmony gives a haunting, dream-like atmosphere, which suits the themes of war and destruction in the song lyrics. The utilization of borrowed chords and pedal tones adds to the progressive nature of the music, pushing the boundaries of conventional chord progressions.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Goodbye Blue Sky by Pink Floyd are:

D, A7/D, G/D, D, A7/D, G/D, D, D, Am/D