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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“When Doves Cry” by Prince features an unorthodox chord progression compared to many pop or rock songs from the era. The chord progression in the Outro as well as throughout the song remains constant, which underscores the plaintive mood of the song and lyrics. The progression: Em – F – G in the Outro contains borrowed chords from the parallel minor. This introduces a sense of ambiguity to the overall tonality.

“Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones uses a common rock arrangement with a focus on the V, I, and vi chords. The distinguishing factor for this particular progression is its consistent use of inverted chords to create more linear, and stepwise, bass lines.

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” composed by Paul McCartney, is a pop song that sits in the key of D Major throughout. However, it does borrow chords from the parallel minor. This technique, known as modal interchange or borrowed chords, is common in popular music and especially in classical compositions by iconic bands like The Beatles.

The chord progression in Kali Uchis’ “Loner” features a mix of major, minor, and augmented chords, which contributes to the song’s unique sound and emotional depth. The progression has an unconventional and intriguing quality, while still maintaining a sense of harmonic coherence.

Prince – Little Red Corvette – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Db’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Bbm7’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Db’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Ab’, ‘Bbm7’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Bbm7’, ‘Ab’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Following is the Chord progression with their Roman Numerals, and a listing of all the full chord names on one line structured.

“`
Gb Major (‘I’), Ab Major (IV — borrowed from the parallel minor), Db Major (‘V’), Bbm7 (‘iii7’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

Several other artists have used similar chord progressions to the one in “Little Red Corvette”. For instance,

1. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey also uses the I-IV-V progression in the key of E Major:
“`
E Major (‘I’), A Major (‘IV’), B Major (‘V’)
“`
2. “Let it Be” by The Beatles uses same progression in the key of C Major:
“`
C Major (‘I’), F Major (‘IV’), G Major (‘V’)
“`

Musical Analysis

The progression begins with the tonic Gb Major, instantly creating a sense of home. It then goes to a borrowed IV Ab Major that adds a bit of flavor due to its part from a parallel minor. The progression then goes to Db Major, traditionally a dominant function, before resolving back to the tonic. The addition of ‘iii7’ (Bbm7) assists in moving back to ‘I’ from ‘V’. The repetitive use of I-IV-V gives the song a catchy, circular progression feel while the Bbm7 adds a touch of soulfulness and complexity.

Overall Analysis

“Little Red Corvette” by Prince is in the key of Gb Major. The song is a staple of 80’s pop and a good example of Prince’s signature sound of fusing elements from different genres, such as funk, pop, and rock. It’s a strong blend of complex chord progressions and simple, catchy melodic lines which adds a compelling depth to the music.

Style Analysis

The use of borrowed chords is not uncommon in popular music of the ’80s and Prince’s music often includes harmonic complexities beyond simple triadic progressions. The syncopation and rhythmic interplay throughout the chorus also adds to its infectious groove. The modulation, strong melody and harmonization all are signature elements of Prince’s style.

Chords in the Chorus section of Little Red Corvette by Prince are:

[‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Db’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Bbm7’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Db’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Ab’, ‘Bbm7’, ‘Gb’, ‘Ab’, ‘Bbm7’, ‘Ab’]