Queens of the Stone Age – Like Clockwork – Verse 2
Like Clockwork < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘F#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘C#m’]
Chord Progression Analysis
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Here’s the listing of the full chord names, their respective roles in the key of F# minor (assuming that as our tonic), along with notation of any borrowed chords:
– F# minor (‘i’)
– A Major (‘III’)
– E Major (‘VII’)
– C# minor (‘iv’) – this could be seen as a borrowed chord from F# Major.
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[‘F# minor (i)’, ‘A Major (III)’, ‘E Major (VII)’, ‘C# minor (iv)’]
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Similar Chord Progressions
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Though not identical, a somewhat similar chord progression can be found in Radiohead’s “Creep,” and Muse’s “Time Is Running Out.” While these songs don’t use the same chords, the use of primarily minor chords and deviation from typical pop progressions is a common thread among these artists.
The progression in “Creep” is:
– G Major (‘I’)
– B Major (‘III’)
– C Major (‘IV’)
– C minor (‘iv’) – this is a borrowed chord
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[‘G Major (I)’, ‘B Major (III)’, ‘C Major (IV)’, ‘C minor (iv)’]
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The progression in “Time Is Running Out” is:
– D minor (‘i’)
– A# Major (‘VI’)
– F Major (‘III’)
– C Major (‘VII’)
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[‘D minor (i)’, ‘A# Major (VI)’, ‘F Major (III)’, ‘C Major (VII)’]
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Musical Analysis
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This progression is interesting in that it deviates from the standard circle-of-fifths pattern seen in much of popular music. The progression moves from i to III, which is a fairly common progression. Then it jumps to VII followed by iv, which is more unexpected. This creates a unique, sombrero sonic texture, which is a signature of Queens of the Stone Age’s harmonic style.
The unique element of this progression is the C# minor chord, formed by raising the third degree of the scale from what would be expected in the key of F# minor. This sort of harmonic shift is a typical element of rock music, used to create an unexpected and unique sound that adds interest to the composition and catches the listener’s ear.
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Overall Analysis
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Looking at the entire song and isolating the verse, the chord progression provided shows a rock style often seen in Queens of the Stone Age compositions. The harmonic language of this song and its progression style fall within the realm of Pop / Rock music, with frequent use of minor chords suggesting a somber or introspective mood. On first glance, it appears to contain chords primarily from the key of F# minor, with no obvious borrowings from other keys. However, a closer inspection will allow us to delve deeper into their harmonic function.
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Style Analysis
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The use of minors combined with a melody that likely uses elements of the harmonic minor scale or natural minor scale is indicative of Queens of the Stone Age’s style. They often use darker, minor-based tonalities, with atypical chord progressions and melodies to preserve their gloomy and somber sonic atmosphere. This, combined with their aggressive guitar playing and rhythmic complexity, gives them a distinct sound within the rock genre.
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What are the chords in: Queens of the Stone Age – Like Clockwork – Verse 2?
[‘F#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘C#m’]
