Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Everything In Its Right Place” by Radiohead is a harmonically adventurous piece with an unconventional structure that features a mixture of modal and borrowed chords. The piece has an impressionistic quality influenced by classical lineage, while also regularly employing electronic and synthesized sounds.

“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead is a melancholic song with an emotional chord progression. The song is in the key of A Major and features a mixture of diatonic chords, suspended chords, and extended chords that create a sense of yearning and tension. The verse is characterized by a cyclical progression that begins and ends on the tonic (A), providing a sense of unresolved tension. This helps to support the song’s themes of artificiality and dissatisfaction.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Paper Tiger” by Beck is an interesting mix of major and minor chords which gives the song a unique and slightly melancholic vibe. While the song is in the key of E major, it contains several chords borrowed from the parallel minor key and features unusual harmonic movement. This creates a sense of tension and release that is characteristic of Beck’s music.

The chord progression in the chorus of Muse’s “Apocalypse Please” consists of a mix of diatonic chords and borrowed chords from the parallel major and minor keys. The progression features strong harmonic movement with a pivot modulation. Muse is known for their dramatic, often symphonic rock sound, and this progression is no exception in showing off their signature style. The progression also shares some similarities with other artists’ works in both structure and harmonic content.

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” is a pop ballad written in the key of G major. The progression makes traditional use of the G major chord scale with a notable exception of a borrowed chord A/C#.

Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place – Chorus

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

Chord Progression

F, C, Db, Eb, F, C, Db, Eb, F, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb

Chord Progression Analysis

Fmaj (‘I’), Cmaj (‘V’), Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’), Fmaj (‘I’), Cmaj (‘V’), Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’), Fmaj (‘I’), Cmaj (‘V’), Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’), Cmaj (‘V’), Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’), Cmaj (‘V’), Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’), Cmaj (‘V’), Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’), Cmaj (‘V’), Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’)

Borrowed Chords:
`Dbmaj (‘bVI’), Ebmaj (‘bVII’)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Space Oddity” by David Bowie:
Cmaj (‘I’), E7 (‘V7/IV’), Fmaj (‘IV’), Fm (‘iv’), Cmaj (‘I’), Fmaj (‘IV’), Gmaj (‘V’), Amaj (‘VI’), Am (‘vi’), Cmaj (‘I’)

2. “Paranoid Android” by Radiohead:
Bm (‘i’), E (‘V/vi’), G (‘VI’), B7 (‘vii°’), Emaj7 (‘ii°’), F#m (‘iii’), G (‘VI’), Ab7 (‘bVII+7’), A (‘vii°/iii’), E (‘V/vi’), Bm (‘i’)

3. “Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles:
Dbmaj (‘I’), Bbm9 (‘ii9’), Fm7 (‘iv7’), Gbmaj7 (‘V7’), Gb6 (‘V6’), Fm7-5 (‘iv7-5’), Ab7 (‘VI7’)

These examples, while showcasing different styles and artists, showcase a similar approach to chord progressions as “Everything In Its Right Place” by using diatonic and borrowed chords, exploring different tonal centers, and creating rich harmonic results.

Musical Analysis

The shifting tonal centers in “Everything In Its Right Place” create a sense of suspense and resolution throughout the chorus. Starting with the Fmaj chord, the listener may initially assume the key center is F. However, the introduction of Dbmaj and Ebmaj – borrowed chords from the parallel minor – adds new harmonic elements and richness to the progression. It is also interesting to note the alternating pattern of diatonic and borrowed chords, which further emphasizes the tension and release throughout the progression.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression of Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place” is unique and complex, which contributes to the dreamy, atmospheric, and rich harmonic content prevalent in the song. Its ambiguous key center and shifting tonal centers create a sense of fluidity and unpredictability, commonly observed in Radiohead’s style. The chorus features a blend of diatonic and borrowed chords from parallel keys, which creates a colorful, almost impressionist quality to the progression.

Style Analysis

Radiohead is known for their experimentation with harmony, melody, rhythm, and texture. In “Everything In Its Right Place,” the suspended tonality, rich harmonic language, and atmospheric sound create an emotional and ambiguous quality, which is characteristic of their work. The mix of diatonic and borrowed chords contributes to the expressive nature of the song and expands the harmonic palette from a typical pop song. These elements are consistently found in Radiohead’s music, revealing their complex and distinct compositional style.

Chords in the Chorus section of Everything In Its Right Place by Radiohead are:

F, C, Db, Eb, F, C, Db, Eb, F, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb, C, Db, Eb