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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The piece “3’s and 7’s” by Queens of The Stone Age illustrates a fascinating blend of minor and major tonality, accented dissonances, and unexpected harmonic turns, which is characteristic of the band’s stoner rock and alternative metal style. The verse 2 chord progression is in A# minor and it sticks to a fairly repetitive three-chord progression of A#m – G# – F.

“Little Sister” by Queens of the Stone Age is in C# minor and features an interesting blend of simple cycle of power chords, articulating a I – V/v – III – V progression during verses. The track is heavy but also melodic, built from a four-chord pattern that creates a mesmerizing tonality within the rock 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.

The chord progression in “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is primarily centered around the Cm7 chord throughout the verses and pre-choruses, with the chorus briefly moving to the F major chord before returning back to Cm7. The song is in the key of C minor, and the chords used are mostly diatonic to the key, creating a dark and somewhat haunting atmosphere. The progression is simplistic but effective, establishing a strong sense of forward motion and tension that is fitting for the industrial rock style of the song.

“Just The Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. is an easy-listening song, falling under R&B and jazz genres. It’s a classic example of the use of major 7th, dominant 7th, and minor 7th chords to create a rich, smooth harmonic texture. The chord progression is quite repetitive and follows a mixture of diatonic and chromatic movement.

Queens of the Stone Age – 3S And 7S – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The repeating chord sequence for the verse of “3s and 7s” is A#m, G#, F.

The breakdown is as follows:
A# Minor (‘i’)
G# Major (‘VII’)
F Major (‘VI’)

Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android.” Although in a different key (G minor), its verse follows a similar pattern:

G Minor (‘i’)
F Major (‘VII’)
Eb Major (‘VI’)

This chord progression is, however, quite common and is found in numerous other modern compositions.

Musical Analysis

In regards to the harmonic function of the chords, the sequence continually resolves from a tense i – VII to VI, before repeating. This sequence focuses on the tonic (A#m) as a driver throughout the verse, commonly leading into the dominant 7th chord (G#) before resolving into the submediant (F). It’s also worth mentioning that from a traditional Classical point, the chord progression lacks a V – I (dominant – Tonic) resolution except in some sections where E (V) resolves to A#m (i).

Overall Analysis

The song “3s and 7s” by Queens of the Stone Age is in the key of A# minor. The chord progression predominantly features three chords: A#m, G#, and F. The progression utilizes elements of rock and metal music, characteristic of the band’s style. The composition has a darker feel brought by the use of minor chords and dropped tuning, which is frequently employed in harder styles of rock music.

Style Analysis

Queens of the Stone Age are known for their unique fusion of heavy metal, hard rock, and alternative rock. The chord progression of “3s and 7s” reflects this, venturing outside of classic rock paradigms. The repeated use of A#m, G#, and F lends itself to a darker, more contemplative, and atmospheric feel.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of 3S And 7S by Queens of the Stone Age are:

[‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’, ‘A#m’, ‘G#’, ‘F’]