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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.

The chord progression in the bridge of “Hey You” by Pink Floyd is a relatively simple progression that revolves around the C Major and G Major chords, with brief appearances of D Major and E minor add9 chords. The piece showcases Pink Floyd’s signature progressive rock style, with steady changes between chords and a sense of tension and release.

“The Sound Of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel is written in the key of Am and follows the Verse-Chorus form common in pop and rock music. The progression consists of a beachfront of common and borrowed chords, showing the use of modal interchange and diatonic chords in creating a memorable and emotive sound.

The piece “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars showcases a common pop ballad structure that follows a typical 4-chord progression with common tone substitution as well as some chords borrowed from the relative minor. Its simplicity is one of its strengths as it allows the focus to fall on Bruno’s vocals and the lyrics, which matches the direct, emotional content of the song effectively.

“Kiss” by Prince is a classic example showcasing Prince’s unique and complex songwriting abilities. The song is written in the key of A major. The distinctive funk rock style is primarily expressed via dominant and suspended chords. This combined with Prince’s rhythmically tight and syncopated guitar playing gives the song its infectious groove.

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

C, D/F#, Am/E, G, D/F#, C, Am, G

Chord Progression Analysis

C Major (‘I’), D Major/F# (‘V/V’), A minor/E (‘vi’), G Major (‘V’), D Major/F# (‘V/V’), C Major (‘I’), A minor (‘vi’), G Major (‘V’)

Borrowed Chord:
`D Major/F# (‘V/V’)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Progression: Am (‘vi’), G (‘V’), Am/G (‘vi/V’), Am/F# (‘vi/♯IV’), Am/F (‘vi/IV’), Am/E (‘vi’), D (‘II’), E (‘III’)

2. Led Zeppelin – “Stairway To Heaven”
Progression: Am (‘vi’), G (‘V’), F (‘IV’), Am (‘vi’), G (‘V’), F (‘IV’), C (‘I’), D (‘II’)

Note that these progressions share some similarities but are not identical to the chord progression in “Wish You Were Here.” The main aspect they have in common is the usage of secondary dominants or borrowed chords, and the general classic rock aesthetic.

Musical Analysis

The song is in the key of C Major. The progression begins with the tonic chord, C Major (‘I’), providing a sense of stability. It then moves to D Major/F# (‘V/V’), which is a secondary dominant chord that borrows from the parallel key (C Lydian or G Major, depending on interpretation). This borrowed chord sets up an expectation for the resolution to the G Major chord (the V of C Major), however, the progression instead moves to A minor/E (‘vi’)—a deceptive resolution—creating a sense of longing in the music. Finally, the G Major (‘V’) chord appears and resolves back to the C Major (‘I’) chord, completing the progression.

The presence of the slash chords (D/F# and Am/E) adds a smoothness in the bass line movement and increases harmonic interest, while maintaining an overall sense of consonance.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” is noted for its introspective lyrics and mellow, almost melancholic style. This is creatively reflected in the chord progression, which combines conventional diatonic chords with the secondary dominant D Major/F# to add a level of sophistication and depth. The combination of acoustic guitar and the chord progression creates an intimate and emotional atmosphere, in line with the reflective nature of the lyrics.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd are:

C, D/F#, Am/E, G, D/F#, C, Am, G