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Related Music Theory Alchemy

Prince’s “Purple Rain” is a classic power ballad, rooted deeply in pop and rock genres. The chord progressions, with particular emphasis on the one given in Verse 3, underlines Prince’s lyricism and craft, showcasing his unique ability to blend seemingly simple chord progressions to evoke emotional and profound moods. The key of the song is G major.

“Sometimes It Snows In April” is a song by Prince in the pop style. It’s characterized by its use of extended and added note chords, as seen in the chord progression for Verse 3. This advanced harmonic content gives the song a distinct, rich, and complex musical texture, typical of Prince’s style.

The verse of “Megalomania” by Muse is characterized by distinctive harmonic progressions, dynamic contrasts, and notable melodic lines that are typical of the band’s alternative rock style. Throughout this verse, Muse uses common harmonic devices such as secondary dominants, diatonic and chromatic mediants, borrowed chords from parallel keys, and deceptive cadences to create a sense of tension and forward momentum.

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals features a repeating chord progression in a minor key that gives the song a haunting, melancholic feel. This progression moves through the circle of fifths, features borrowed chords from its relative major key and has a strong resolution from the dominant to the tonic.

“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.

Prince – Purple Rain – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
G (I),
Em (vi),
D (V),
C (IV),
G (I),
Em (vi),
D (V),
G (I),
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

“Lights” by Journey
Chord progression:
“`
E (I),
B/D# (V/7),
C#m (vi),
A (IV),
E (I),
B/D# (V/7),
C#m (vi),
E (I)
“`

“With Or Without You” by U2
Chord progression:
“`
D (I),
A/B (V/7),
Bm (vi),
G (IV),
D (I),
A/B (V/7),
Bm (vi),
D (I)
“`

These songs have similar I-vi-V-IV progressions to “Purple Rain”. One can notice a trend of employing this progression in pop and rock songs, as it provides a reliable backbone that allows room for expressive variation in melody and rhythm.

Musical Analysis

The repetition of (I – vi – V – IV) and (I – vi – V – I) sequences automatically generates a sense of resolution and satisfaction, offering a pleasant “return home” for the ears. The D (V) chord drives home the resolution to the G (I) chord and the C (IV) introduces a slight variation before diving back into the cyclical progression.

This specific sequence sets a bittersweet atmosphere with the strategic use of minor chord (Em) against a major key backdrop (G major), creating tension and release within the chordal movement.

Overall Analysis

The song “Purple Rain” by Prince is a classic and showcases some interesting use of chord progressions. The key of the song is G major. The classic, popular music formula is present in the use of common chords like I, ii, IV, V which are all diatonic within the key. Noticeably, this song opts for a more simplistic, cyclical chord progression structure that emphasizes repetition of strong melodic lines.

Style Analysis

Prince takes fundamental methods from both rock and funk genres and melds them into a singular, distinctive style. His use of the I – vi – V – IV progression comes from the tradition of rock and pop music. Also typical for the pop and rock genres is the 4/4 time signature and the repetitive nature of the chord progression.

However, despite the fundamental structure, “Purple Rain,” also moves away from the typical pop song mold with its numerous guitar solos, dramatic synthesizers, string and choir arrangements – all contributing to the epic feel of the piece. The slightly unconventional arrangement lends the song a unique, enduring appeal, and served as his signature.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Purple Rain by Prince are:

[‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘G’]