Music Theory Alchemy

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The verse 2 chord progression of Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place” demonstrates a combination of diatonic and non-diatonic chords with tonal ambiguity, frequent use of borrowed chords from parallel modes, and modulation. The progression has a cyclic, hypnotic quality with occasional surprises due to large leaps in pitch and unexpected, non-diatonic chords.

“Exit Music (For a Film)” by Radiohead is a song characterized by a strong sense of melancholy and dark ambiance. The harmonic movement creates tension through the use of chromaticism, borrowed chords, and non-diatonic notes. In the verse progression, there is a mixture of minor and major chords, along with added tones that enhance the complexity and mood of the music.

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane is a softly and tenderly written song that rests primarily on the key of C Major. However, it uses a fair amount of borrowed chords from the parallel minor key, giving it a warm, melancholic tone, which is typical of many pop ballads.

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys is one of their most well-known pieces and a primary example of the sophisticated harmonic writing characteristic of the group’s 1966 “Pet Sounds” record. This piece is particularly designed in the key of A major. The Outro of the song includes the following chords: ‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘E/G#’ and many other chords throughout the song with complex chord changes that might not be typical in a pop song, but are characteristic of the band’s sound.

The chord progression in the outro of Beck’s “Say Goodbye” is an interesting combination of diatonic and chromatic elements. The use of the borrowed chord A# major in the mostly diatonic setting adds an unexpected twist to the progression, creating a unique and expressive harmonic landscape.

Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place – Outro

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Chord Progression

F, C, Db, Eb

Chord Progression Analysis

F major (I) – C major (V) – D♭ major (♭VI) – E♭ major (♭VII)

`D♭ major and E♭ major are borrowed chords from the parallel minor (F minor).`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Creep” by Radiohead: (‘I) – (‘V) – (‘♭VI) – (‘♭III)

2. “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics: (‘I) – (‘♭VI) – (‘♭VII) – (‘V)

3. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve: (‘I) – (‘I) – (‘♭VI) – (‘♭VI)

While these similar chord progressions have different chord arrangements, they all make use of borrowed chords and modal mixture to achieve an emotional, distinctive sound.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression, which makes use of borrowed chords from the parallel minor, is quite unusual and adds a distinct flavor to the song. F major, the tonic chord, provides a sense of stability, while the subsequent chords add increasing levels of tension before looping back to the starting point.

Using borrowed chords, such as the D♭ major and E♭ major from the parallel minor, provides a sense of modal mixture to the progression. This creates an intriguing balance between the expected diatonic chords and unexpected modally borrowed chords, effectively maintaining a sense of tension that works well in the context of Radiohead’s ambient, experimental sound.

Overall Analysis

“Everything In Its Right Place” by Radiohead is an experimental and ambient piece released in 2000 as part of their album “Kid A.” The piece defies traditional pop and rock song forms, delving more into the territory of electronic and experimental music. The outro chord progression is simple but intriguing, serving a hypnotic and unresolved quality that keeps the listener engaged.

Style Analysis

“Everything In Its Right Place” is a clear example of Radiohead’s inclination towards experimenting with unconventional chord progressions, structures, and textures. The band, known for pushing the boundaries of rock and alternative music, embraces the use of electronic elements, synthesizers, and audio manipulation in this piece. The harmonic choices and overall atmosphere of the song contribute to its haunting, otherworldly quality.

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

F, C, Db, Eb