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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys is highly complex and represents an exceptional use of harmonic structuring. The richness of the piece lies in Brian Wilson’s innovative and unpredictable songwriting, who was making significant use of modulation at the time, constantly shifting keys, in this case especially during the transition bridge.

The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” presents an interesting mix of major and minor chords with excellent use of chord inversions and borrowings. The song is harmonically adventurous, showcasing the band’s pop mastery with Brian Wilson’s unmatched compositional skills. This song is primarily in the key of A Major, with many borrowed chords and modulation that creates its unique feel.

“Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock song centered around the blues and psychedelic rock styles. The verse features an interesting and unconventional chord progression, which adds to the distinctive sound of the piece. The verse progression itself consists of four chords: E7#9, G, A, and E.

This iconic Britpop song predominantly features the use of traditional tonal harmony found in pop songs throughout the late 20th century, and the verse specifically recalls the harmonic patterns utilized in the 1950s and 60s. The defining feature of this song (as is the case with many Oasis tunes) is the use of returning, resounding repetitions of simple chord sequences.

“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd is an iconic rock ballad from their 1975 album of the same name. The song’s verse chord progression evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing, featuring a combination of major and minor chords, as well as borrowed chords and inversions that create a unique and emotional soundscape.

The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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Here is a simplified version for Verse 1:

Dm – I
C – VII
Bb – VI
A – V

This progression repeats four times in the verse. The verse starts in D minor, and the chord progression descends by step, from Dm (I) to C (VII) to Bb (VI) and then to A (V). This sequence of chords is quite common in pop music.

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Similar Chord Progressions

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1) “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey:

E – I
B – V
C#m – VI
A – IV

2) “Let It Be” by The Beatles:

C – I
G – V
Am – VI
F – IV
3) “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John:

C – I
G – V
Am – VI
F – IV

Note that while these songs do not feature the exact same chord progression as “Good Vibrations,” they nonetheless follow a similar descending pattern, moving from the I chord to IV in their respective keys, illustrating how common this progression is in popular music.

Musical Analysis

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The descending chord progression provides a sense of melancholy along with settling tension. The dissonant tension of the minor chord “Dm” starts off the progression where it resolves to the more consonant major chord “C”. This process repeats as we move from “Bb” to the “A”. The repetition of this four chord sequence creates anticipation which is satisfied each time the sequence repeat again.

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Overall Analysis

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“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys employs a series of chord progressions that echo the rising tension and resolution in the song’s narrative. The song is primarily in the key of D minor, with moments of temporary modulation, which allows for colorful and unexpected harmonies to emerge. This harmonic and melodic complexity is one of the defining characteristics of Brian Wilson’s writing style, highlighting his ability to push the boundaries of pop music.

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Style Analysis

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This chord progression is a testament to The Beach Boys’ unique style of combining complex harmonic structures with the catchy, upbeat tempos typical of pop music. Wilson’s innovative and gifted arrangement skills are portrayed in his incorporation of unconventional instruments (i.e., theremin) and experimental studio techniques.

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Chords in the Verse 1 section of Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys are:

[‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C’, ‘Bb’, ‘A’, ‘C’]