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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The given chord progression for the ending of Radiohead’s “You And Whose Army?” is in the key of A major. There are four chords in the progression: A, C#m, B-5, and B-5. Overall, it follows a relatively simple harmonic structure that incorporates power chords and a chromatic neighbor tone in the bass.

“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead is in the key of A major and features an alternative rock style with a strong emphasis on the melody and a hauntingly beautiful vocal progression. The song contains a unique mix of simple and complex chords that give it a sense of tension and unease.

“Hey Jude,” by The Beatles, is an iconic song. The chord progression is in the key of D major and it follows a sort of Variation on I-V-IV-I progression of many pop and rock songs. However, what makes this song extremely unique is its out-of-the-box structure and the experimental use of borrowed cords – it shows The Beatles’ fondness for combining elements of pop, rock and classical music and results in an emotional, powerful progression that resonates strongly with listeners.

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys showcases the artistic depth and compositional craft of Brian Wilson, the band’s primary songwriter. The song utilizes a complex chord progression and key changes that are unconventional for pop music of its time. The chord progression creates a sense of constant mood transitions, similar to arias in Romantic era music.

The chord progression for the verse of “Kids” by MGMT is a simple and diatonic progression in the key of A major, following the vi-IV-I-V pattern. It is common in pop music and creates a sense of tension and release throughout the progression. The chords are played using predominantly major and minor triads, with an inversion in the V chord (E/G#).

Radiohead – You And Whose Army – Verse

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Chord Progression

D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, E, A, C#m, D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, E, A, C#m

Chord Progression Analysis

D#m (bII), G# (V), C#m (i), F# (IV), Bm (v), E (III), A (VI), C#m (i), D#m (bII), G# (V), C#m (i), F# (IV), Bm (v), E (III), A (VI), C#m (i), E (III), A (VI), C#m (i), D#m (bII), G# (V), C#m (i), F# (IV), Bm (v), E (III), A (VI), C#m (i), D#m (bII), G# (V), C#m (i), F# (IV), Bm (v), E (III), A (VI), C#m (i), E (III), A (VI), C#m (i)

Borrowed Chord:

“`
D#m (bII)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Exit Music (For a Film)” by Radiohead
Bm (i), G (VI), Em (iv), C#dim (iio), F# (V), Bm (i), G (VI), Em (iv), C#dim (iio), F# (V), Bm (i)

2. “Something” by The Beatles
C (I), Cmaj7 (IM7), C7 (I7), F (IV), D (V), G (V), Am (vi), Am7/G (vi7/VI), Cmaj7 (IM7), G (V)

Both of these examples, while not identical to “You And Whose Army,” exhibit some elements present in the song, such as unusual chord relationships and borrowed chords.

Musical Analysis

The recurring use of the borrowed chord D#m (bII) creates an element of surprise and tension while still providing a sense of resolution as it progresses to the G# (V) chord. This tension-release relationship is further emphasized by the movement between the F# (IV) and Bm (v) chords. The progression also includes a common chord progression, the VI-III-i progression (A-C#m-E), which adds an emotional and somewhat nostalgic quality to the piece.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in Radiohead’s “You And Whose Army” showcases the band’s unique style of blending chord progressions from different key centers, as well as their tendency to use borrowed chords. The progression consists largely of diatonic chords from the key of C# minor, but also features a few borrowed chords from D# minor and the parallel major key, C# Major.

Style Analysis

Radiohead is known for their innovative and experimental approach to songwriting, often blending elements from various genres and styles. The chord progression in “You And Whose Army” embodies this approach by using borrowed chords, uncommon chord relationships, and multiple key centers. This technique can be found in various songs throughout their discography, as they consistently push the boundaries of conventional music theory to create a unique and evocative sound.

Chords in the Verse section of You And Whose Army by Radiohead are:

D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, E, A, C#m, D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, D#m, G#, C#m, F#, Bm, E, A, C#m, E, A, C#m