Search

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.

“The song When Doves Cry” by Prince features a very distinctive chord progression in its chorus section. Technically the song is written in a minor key, but the progression tends to flow in a way that feels almost like a major key at times. This is a common characteristic of many Prince songs, signifying the unique and innovative style of the artist.

“Come Together” by The Beatles, like many other Beatles songs, is known for its unique melody and innovative chord progressions. The song is written in the key of D minor and employs frequent use of bluesy pentatonic scale patterns. The meter is 4/4 (common time). The song is characterized by the use of common chords, with the exception of the Bm and Bm/A chords which are noteworthy.

“I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles is an excellent example of their innovative approach to harmony and chord progression. This song, written in the key of G major, features a common I-V-vi-III progression in the verses. It notably uses borrowed ‘B’ major and ‘B7’ chords from the parallel minor scale.

“Hysteria” by Muse is a song with a heavy rock style, featuring a powerful bassline and distorted guitars. The chord progression mentioned is present in the first verse of the song. This progression is characterized by the use of standard tonal harmony and minor key tonality, with some slight variations that are typical in rock music.

Prince – Purple Rain – Verse 1

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

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’]