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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Roads” by Portishead features a haunting yet melodic chord progression reminiscent of the minor key-oriented pop/rock of the 90’s. It combines chords from the key of A minor along with a borrowed chord from the parallel major key to create a moody, atmospheric soundscape typical of the trip-hop genre.

The song “It’s A Fire” by Portishead features complex harmonic structures, distinguished by a fusion of pop, rock, and elements of jazz harmonies. The band, known for their trip-hop style, employ chromatically richer harmony and non-diatonic chord progressions in this piece. The chord progression of ‘It’s A Fire’ is consistent with this approach as we see the frequent use of suspended and minor chords alongside major ones, which creates a sense of unresolved tension. Borrowed chords, usually taken from the parallel minor or major key, are also used frequently to add stylistic color to the harmony.

“I Am The Walrus” is a distinctive composition by the Beatles from their 1967 album “Magical Mystery Tour”. Known for its surreal lyrics and creative chord progression, the song displays the Beatles’ mastery of composition and their innovative use of harmony. The song features elements from psychedelic rock, a genre that the Beatles helped popularize during the mid-1960s.

“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak utilizes a repetitive three-chord-per-measure progression throughout the song. It is notable for its haunting, melancholic, and mysteriously romantic sound largely because of its repeated progression and very carefully chosen blend of major and minor chords, within the key signature of B minor.

“Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones is a song in the key of G Major with a chord progression marked by the use of common chords and a few borrowed chords from other keys. The usage of minor and major chords conjures a variety of emotions synonymous with the mood of the song. The repetitive nature of the sequence creates a cyclical feeling that gives a strong sense of the song’s emotional journey.

Portishead – Roads – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘Fma7’, ‘E7’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Am’]

Chord Progression Analysis

– Am (‘i’)
– G6 (‘♭VII6’)
– Fmaj7 (‘♭VIΔ7’)
– E7 (‘V7’)

(Note: ‘♭VIΔ7’ (Fmaj7) is a borrowed chord)

Similar Chord Progressions

– Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”: [‘Am’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘Gmaj7’, ‘Cmaj7’]
– Tame Impala – “Yes I’m Changing”: [‘Am’, ‘Gmaj’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘E7’]

Though not identical, these songs share a similar use of the ‘♭VIΔ7’ chord (Fmaj7) and resolve to a dominant 7th. This creates a similar mood and feel between these songs and “Roads” by Portishead.

Musical Analysis

This intriguing progression forms the verse’s primary harmonic structure. It traverses from the tonic i (Am), to the flat major 7th (‘♭VIΔ7’; Fmaj7), and finally to the dominant 7th (V7; E7). This creates unpredictability as it doesn’t follow a standard harmonic motion usually found in popular music. Emphasizing on the E7 chord’s tension, it calls for a resolution that returns us to the tonic (i, Am).

Overall Analysis

“Roads” by Portishead is set in the key of Am, also known as A minor. In the verse, there is an interesting use of the flat major 7 (Fmaj7) chord. This chord is not typically found within the natural minor key but is considered a borrowed chord from the A major key. Thus, this use of said borrowed chord and its resolution to the E7 dominants gives the song a unique feel, contributing to its mesmerizing and emotive ambience. Portishead tends to blend the use of A minor and A Dorian modality in their music, especially apparent in this composition.

Style Analysis

Portishead is known for their trip-hop genre. Their style often fuses elements of rock, hip-hop, and jazz which is reflected in the mixture of modalities and harmonic progressions used in “Roads”. The use of a ⸗♭VIΔ7 (Fmaj7) chord gives a somewhat jazzy feel to the song. The progression has a poignant and somewhat melancholic vibe that fits well with the overall theme of the song.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Roads by Portishead are:

[‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘Fma7’, ‘E7’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘E7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Am’]