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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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.

“Creep” by Radiohead is a song in the key of G major that features a four-chord progression in its verse 2, which is distinctive for its use of a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (G minor). Although the song’s simple harmonic structure is quite common in pop music, its use of a borrowed chord adds an element of surprise and emotional depth, establishing Radiohead’s unique sound.

This chord progression is in the key of C Major, but incorporates a variety of borrowed chords and slash chords that add complexity and color to the song. It’s a good example of how Elton John takes popularly-used chord progressions and puts his own unique spin on them.

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“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails utilizes a relatively simple chord structure, which allows the song to establish a pervasive atmosphere and direct the listener’s focus on the lyrics and melodies. This piece is in the key of C minor, and the chord progression is cyclical in nature, with Verse 2 consisting of the repetition of Cm7 chord throughout.

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“All My Loving” by The Beatles is a mid-tempo pop song written in the key of E minor for the verse and D Major for the bridge and outro, featuring a distinct, upbeat walking bassline. The grey, almost mournful verses, along with the brighter, major-toned bridges and chorus, create a juxtaposition of feelings within the piece. The bridge also highlights The Beatles’ use of secondary dominants and chromaticism. Concluding in the tonic key of D Major, the song has an interesting interplay between Em and D Major throughout, which could be perceived as a Em: i, VI, III, II and D: vi, V7, I, vi, IV, ii, I progression.

Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’), Fmaj (‘IV’), Cmaj (‘bVII’), Dbmaj (‘bI’), Ebmaj (‘bIII’)

Borrowed Chords:
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Cmaj (‘bVII’) – Borrowed from the parallel mixolydian mode
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Similar Chord Progressions

1. Muse – “Map of the Problematique”
Chord Progression: Dmin (‘i’), Amaj (‘IV’), Bb (‘V’), Gmin (‘iv’)

2. The Beatles – “Let It Be”
Chord Progression: Cmaj (‘I’), Gmaj (‘V’), Amaj (‘VI’), Fmaj (‘IV’)

Though these examples differ in the exact chords used or their order, they share a similar sensibility in borrowing chords and creating tonal ambiguity with modal mixture. Remember, the similarity lies in concept and commonality of borrowing chords, rather than the exact progression.

Musical Analysis

“Everything In Its Right Place” exhibits a strong sense of modal mixture by borrowing chords from parallel modes. In this case, Db major and Eb major chords form the primary key center. In addition to the modal mixture, certain chords like F major add a sense of surprise and tension, which contrasts with the cycling nature of the progression. The progression revolves around bI-bVII-bIII chords throughout verse 2, reinforcing the hypnotic and cyclic nature of the song. This verse modulates between Db major and Eb major, creating a somewhat unresolved undercurrent complementing the shifting chords.

Overall Analysis

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.

Style Analysis

The chord progression in “Everything In Its Right Place” is characterized by its unusual and experimental nature. By combining chords from different modes and having unexpected leaps in pitch, the progression defies traditional harmony rules. This is consistent with Radiohead’s style, which often brings avant-garde and unconventional elements into their musical compositions, frequently employing borrowed chords, modal mixtures, and polyrhythmic structures.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Everything In Its Right Place by Radiohead are:

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