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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.

“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.

“Goodbye Blue Sky” by Pink Floyd is a beautifully haunting piece with a chord progression that demonstrates their innovative use of borrowed chords and modulation to explore various tonal centers. The song is generally in the key of A minor.

“Right Where It Belongs” by Nine Inch Nails features a non-diatonic chord progression that creates a sense of tension and resolution. The progression makes use of borrowed chords from parallel keys, contributing to its distinctive sound. The overall key of the song is D minor.

The Sound Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, released in 1964, is a solid example of folk rock genre transitioning into what we now know as classic rock. The chord progression is straightforward yet powerful, and it perfectly complements the beautifully written lyrics and evocative vocal harmonies. Furthermore, the song is written in A minor, a key that is often associated with sadness, which enhances the melancholic and introspective feelings conveyed by the lyrics.

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’]