Portishead – Glory Box – Verse 1
Glory Box < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’]
Chord Progression Analysis
“`
Dm (‘i’)
Dm/C (‘i with VII in bass’)
Bm7b5 (‘vi half-diminished 7’)
Bbmaj7 (‘VII Seventh Major’)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
A similar chord progression can be found in Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” where the verse progression is Cm, Cm/B, Bm7b5, Bb7. They share similar elements including the mixed usage of major 7, diminished 5 and chromatic scale.
An exact track with this same progression is unlikely due to the rather unique nature of the progression, but songs in the same genre may share a similar mood. You will find many songs with similar vibes in the trip-hop genre, for example Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”.
Musical Analysis
Starting with a Dm chord, the song immediately gives a minor key atmosphere. The use of the Dm/C transition chord adds more tension, leading into the Bm7b5 which is a half-diminished chord and further adds to the tension and dark coloring of the piece. Lastly, the Bbmaj7 seems like a satisfying resolution after the tension built up but being a major chord, it adds a slightly bitter-sweet touch.
Overall Analysis
“Glory Box” by Portishead is a Trip Hop masterpiece which blends elements of blues, rock, soul, and electronic music together in an innovative and influential way. The song’s chord progression, as illustrated by the verse, is D minor, D minor with C in the bass (notated as Dm/C), B minor 7 flat 5, and B flat major 7. This particular chord progression gives an overall melancholy and haunting feeling throughout the song and sets the tone for the track.
Style Analysis
“Glory Box”, like many trip-hop songs from the 90s, uses chromaticism and a minor key to elicit a melancholic mood, and combines this with sampled beats and electronica influences to create a darker sound. The use of minor and diminished chords, dominant sevenths and transitions demonstrate the jazz and blues elements often found in the genre.
What are the chords in: Portishead – Glory Box – Verse 1?
[‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bm7b5’, ‘Bbmaj7’]
