Queens of the Stone Age – In My Head – Bridge
In My Head < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘E’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D#’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The bridge progression in ‘In My Head’ is as follows:
“`
E Major (‘I’)
G Major (‘bIII’) (Borrowed from E minor)
D Major (‘VII’) (Borrowed from E minor)
D# (‘#vii’, Diminished, not typically found in the key of E Major)
“`
This progression employs borrowed chords from the parallel minor key (E minor in this case), which is a technique often used in rock music to integrate tonal ambiguity, tension, and release.
Similar Chord Progressions
A similar chord progression can be heard in Radiohead’s “Karma Police”, specifically in the chorus. However, it is in the key of G and uses different borrowed chords:
“`
G Major (‘I’)
Bb Major (‘bIII’) (Borrowed from G minor)
F Major (‘VII’) (Borrowed from G minor)
F# Diminished (‘#vii’ – not typically found in the key of G Major)
“`
The use of borrowed chords from the parallel minor and the use of an unconventional diminished chord in a similar manner creates a comparable sense of tonal ambiguity and tension/release in “Karma Police”. This shows that the chord progression in “In My Head” and “Karma Police” share a similar alternative rock ethos and musical sensibility.
Musical Analysis
The E Major chord as a home base chord provides a bright and open sound, while the G Major and D Major are the borrowed chords from E minor, creating a tonal balance between the comfortable key home key and the unsettling borrowed chords. The D# diminished chord acts as a leading tone to guide the progression back to the root chord, E Major. It creates an unexpected tension before resolving back to the E major, giving a surprising and edgy touch to the overall progression.
Overall Analysis
“In My Head” by Queens of the Stone Age shows a variety of complex chord progressions that are often seen in alternative rock and other sub-genres of rock music. The chord progressions seem to use a combination of modal and chromatic harmony which gives it an edgy and intriguing sound quality.
Style Analysis
The bridge’s chord progression of ‘In My Head’ is typical of the alternative rock and hard rock genres in which Queens of the Stone Age work, with its usage of borrowed chords, thereby creating a unique, edgy, and unpredictable sound.
What are the chords in: Queens of the Stone Age – In My Head – Bridge?
[‘E’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D#’]
