Sigur Rós – Hoppipolla – Instrumental
Hoppipolla < All Analyses
Chord Progression
D#, E, B, G#m, F#, E
Chord Progression Analysis
D# Major (I), E Major (V/♭VII – borrowed chord), B Major (IV), G# Minor (i – borrowed chord), F# Major (V/v), E Major (♭VII)
Borrowed Chords: V/♭VII and i
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E Major (V/♭VII), G# Minor (i)
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Similar Chord Progressions
1. Radiohead – Exit Music (For a Film)
Chord Progression:
A Minor (i), E7/G# (V+/vi), G Major (♭VII), C Major (III), B Major7 (II – borrowed chord), A7sus4 (♭II♯I)
2. Coldplay – Fix You
Chord Progression:
E♭ Major (I), B♭/D (IV/♭VII), G# Minor (iii – borrowed chord), B♭ (♭VII), A♭ (V), B♭ (♭VII)
Please note that these examples are not perfect matches but serve to provide related chord progressions employing mode mixture and/or modal interchange within similar genres of music.
Musical Analysis
Starting in the key of D# Mixolydian, Sigur Rós plays a D# Major chord, followed by an E Major chord, which is borrowed from the parallel key of D# Minor, acting as a secondary dominant (V/♭VII). The chord progression then switches its focus to the relative key of G# Dorian with a B Major, a IV chord in this mode.
Subsequently, the G# Minor chord introduces the borrowed i chord in this new key, as the progression gravitates toward the G# Dorian mode. From here, the F# Major chord acts as a secondary dominant, targeting the subsequent E Major chord (V/v).
Lastly, the progression ends on E Major, which pulls back to the initial D# Major chord (♭VII) at the beginning, effectively creating a loop.
Overall Analysis
Sigur Rós, an Icelandic post-rock band known for their ethereal sound and experimental use of various instruments, has crafted a unique chord progression in their piece “Hoppipolla.” This progression features six chords that change mode from D# Mixolydian to G# Dorian. The chords used are D#maj, E, B, G#m, F#, and E. Sigur Rós blends the modal interchange with their distinct soundscapes, evoking a dreamy atmosphere fitting for the post-rock genre.
Style Analysis
“Hoppipolla” combines the elements of post-rock, ambient music, and modern classical. The band achieves this through the use of unconventional tonality, creating a unique, ethereal soundscape. Mode mixture and modal interchange underpin the chord progression, adding depth and the air of unpredictability.
What are the chords in: Sigur Rós – Hoppipolla – Instrumental?
D#, E, B, G#m, F#, E
