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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.

The chord progression from verse 3 of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” is in the key of C major and shows a mix of diatonic chords and borrowed chords. The progression creates a sense of smooth journey and has a certain melancholic yet uplifting character.

“And I Love Her” by The Beatles is predominantly set within the key of F# minor. Apart from the chorus that momentarily modulates to the key of D minor, the verses embrace a darker, melancholic atmosphere portrayed by the minor keys. The tonal structure and chord progressions in the song are reflective of the band’s exploration of intricate harmonies, going beyond the simple three-chord structures of many contemporary pop songs of the time.

“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a cover of a popular folk-rock song by Fleetwood Mac. In this song, The Smashing Pumpkins show their alternative rock style, while also paying homage to the folk-rock genre and especially to the founder of Folk-Rock “Fleetwood Mac”. The chords used throughout the song are predominantly composed in the key of G major, with the occasional use of a common borrowed chord (Am) from the G minor key.

“Paint It Black” plays with minor tonality, which isn’t extremely common in rock and roll music of the era. The song is in the key of E minor and uses the chords Em, B, D, G, and A. The verse has an interesting use of harmonies, incorporating the minor i, major V, minor iv, major bIII, and major IV chords.

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