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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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.

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The overall use of chords highlights Queen’s blending of rock with more complex harmonic structures, moving beyond simple major & minor chords and incorporating 7th and inversions. Despite its pop/rock surface, “Somebody to Love” includes interesting modulation and chord choices that could be seen as more typical of more ‘classical’ forms of music.

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The chord progression in Weezer’s “Perfect Situation” is a simple and repetitive progression that cycles through three chords, G, D, and Am, with D being used as a transitional or “passing” chord. This progression is based on the I – V – ii structure in the key of G major.

This iconic Britpop song predominantly features the use of traditional tonal harmony found in pop songs throughout the late 20th century, and the verse specifically recalls the harmonic patterns utilized in the 1950s and 60s. The defining feature of this song (as is the case with many Oasis tunes) is the use of returning, resounding repetitions of simple chord sequences.

Portishead – The Rip – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Em’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Bb’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here are the full chord names along with their roman numeral representations:

“`
Em (‘ii’), F (‘bIII’), Em (‘ii’), C (‘VII’), Am (‘iv’), Bb (‘bV’), Am (‘iv’), G (‘III’)
“`

The chord F (‘bIII’) and Bb (‘bV’) are borrowed chords.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Radiohead – “Creep”:
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G (‘I’), B (‘III’), C (‘IV’), Cm (‘iv’)
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The progression uses a borrowed minor iv chord from the parallel minor scale, similar to how “The Rip” borrows chords from parallel modes.

2. Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”:
“`
F (‘I’), Bb (‘IV’), Ab (‘bIII’), Db (‘bVI’)
“`
This progression uses the borrowed bIII chord, similar to the use of the bIII in “The Rip.”

3. The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”:
“`
Am (‘i’), Am/G (‘i’), Am/F# (‘i’), Am/F (‘i’), Am/G (‘i’), D (‘IV’), E (‘V’), C#m (‘ii’), C (‘bII’), Bm (‘i’), E (‘V’)
“`
While more complex, this progression utilizes borrowed chords, tonal shifts and secondary dominants, similar to the harmonic diversity in “The Rip.”

Musical Analysis

The song, by construction, is predominantly in E minor, though it explores tonal centers around various modes, such as E Aeolian and E Dorian. The verse moves from ‘Em’ (the 2nd degree), to ‘F’ (a chord borrowed from the parallel major or the E Phrygian mode, considered the flat 3rd degree), back again to ‘Em’.

The progression then drops to ‘C’ (7th degree in E minor), to ‘Am’ (4th degree), then uses another borrowed chord ‘Bb’ (borrowed from the E Locrian mode acting as flat 5th degree), and back to ‘Am’. The verse closes with a ‘G’ (3rd degree in E minor), adding a dimension of resolution.

Overall Analysis

“The Rip” by Portishead is a classic example of the Trip-hop genre. It features simple, yet effective harmonic progressions that offer a melancholic tone which is widely utilized in this genre. The distinctiveness of this particular chord progression lies on its subtle shifting between minor and major tonalities, as well as its use of borrowed chords.

Verse 1

Style Analysis

Portishead, being key contributors to the development of the Trip-hop genre, use this progression to encapsulate the melancholic, downtempo mood. The progression isn’t complex but its mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, plus the minor to major tonality create a distinctive, haunting sound, fitting the vocal melodies and lyrics. The borrowing of chords from different modes aids to a layered soundscape, a common trait in Trip-hop.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of The Rip by Portishead are:

[‘Em’, ‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Bb’, ‘Am’, ‘G’]