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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a folk-rock song in A minor that features a distinct and memorable chord progression in its coda. By incorporating rhythmic and dynamic elements in their rendition, The Animals managed to popularize the song, making it one of their best-known hits.

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a traditional folk song arranged by the British rock band in 1964. The song is known for its distinct and haunting minor sound, which has become one of the most famous examples of a minor key in popular music. The chord progression features a mix of diatonic and non-diatonic chords that add variety and interest to the music.

“Wild Horses” is a song by the rock band Rolling Stones from their 1971 album “Sticky Fingers”. It is a great example of the band’s adeptness not only at writing catchy rock songs but also at creating complex and interesting chord progressions. The song is in the key of G major. The verse progression is interesting with the use of the B minor chord (Bm), which is the iii chord in the key of G major – a chord that isn’t commonly used in popular music.

This is simply a repetition of the F major chord, played four times. This does not provide much variety or harmonic interest, but it might create a sense of stability and could be used to produce a strong tonal center.

“Let It Be” by The Beatles is a song in the key of C Major. The chord progression featured in Verse 3 of the song, C – G – Am – Am/G – Fmaj7 – F6 – C – G – F – C/E – Dm7 – C, is a common progression in pop music. It has a repetitive structure and revolves around the I-V-vi-VI progression.

The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

Am, C, D, F, Am, C, E, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, E

Chord Progression Analysis

A minor (i) – C major (III) – D major (IV) – F major (VI) – A minor (i) – C major (III) – E major (V) – E major (V) – … (repeats)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Bob Dylan – “All Along the Watchtower”
Chord Progression: A minor (i) – G major (VII) – F major (VI) – G major (VII) – A minor (i)

2. Led Zeppelin – “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”
Chord Progression: A minor (i) – C major (III) – G major (VII) – D major (IV) – F major (VI) – A minor (i)

3. The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Chord Progression: A minor (i) – G major (VII) – A minor (i) – G major (VII) – D major (IV) – E major (V) – A minor (i) – C# minor (ii) – F# minor (vi) – A major (I) – C# minor (ii) – F# minor (vi) – A major (I)

These examples share a similar chromatic descent and use of the Andalusian cadence with varying arrangements to give each song a distinctive sound.

Musical Analysis

The song is in the key of A minor, which is commonly associated with feelings of melancholy or sadness. The piece follows the classic Andalusian cadence, a descending chromatic tetrachord, which leads the chords from the tonic to the dominant (I-V). This progression is prevalent in both Spanish and Flamenco music, giving the piece a distinctive sound.

The chords themselves provide a mix of tension and resolution; the A minor (i) resolves tension created by the E major (V) chord, which is located just before the return to the A minor (i). This resolution strengthens the progression, creating a cyclical, repetitive quality that adds to the hypnotic effect of the song.

Overall Analysis

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a well-known folk song that has been adapted into a blues ballad with a haunting quality. The verse chord progression features a combination of minor and major chords that contribute to its emotional intensity, while also creating a sense of tension and resolution.

Style Analysis

“House of the Rising Sun” features a unique mixture of folk and blues characteristics thanks to its chord progression and The Animal’s arrangement. The Andalusian cadence is a common element in Flamenco music; however, the tension and resolution of the chords lend a bluesy quality to the progression. Additionally, the simple melody and repetitive structure give the song a strong folk presence.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals are:

Am, C, D, F, Am, C, E, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, E