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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones is a popular song from the mid-60s that features a mix of major and minor chords along with modulations between closely related keys. The overall harmonic structure shares similarities with other rock and pop songs of that era, including The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

Base Key and

“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones is a classic rock ballad featuring a simple, yet effective chord progression and harmonic language. The song is in the key of G major, and the chord progression features a mix of diatonic chords from the G major scale, with the non-diatonic A major chord included as a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (G minor) key.

The chord progression in the outro of “After The Storm” by Kali Uchis is a relatively simple and concise one, having just three chords: G#m7, A#m7, and D#aug. Considering that the key of this song is G# minor, the progression makes use of diatonic and non-diatonic chords. Moreover, incorporating an augmented chord lends a feeling of tension and anticipation that makes the outro stand out.

“Everything In Its Right Place” by Radiohead is an experimental and ambient piece released in 2000 as part of their album “Kid A.” The piece defies traditional pop and rock song forms, delving more into the territory of electronic and experimental music. The outro chord progression is simple but intriguing, serving a hypnotic and unresolved quality that keeps the listener engaged.

“Rocket Man” by Elton John is primarily in the key of Bb minor (the verses and chorus), but its outro transposes to the key of C Major, which gives a sensation of resolution. The chord progression in the Outro is a simple two-chord progression (I – V), which is extremely common in all styles of music and impacts the listener with its familiarity and stability.

The Rolling Stones – As Tears Go By – Outro

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Chord Progression

G, A, C, D, G

Chord Progression Analysis

The central focus of the song’s harmony is primarily on the tonic (G Major), subdominant (C Major), and dominant (D Major) chords. The inclusion of the A Major chord, which is borrowed from the parallel minor key (E minor), adds some unexpected color and interest to the progression, yet it is still smooth and functional due to its resolution back to the IV chord (C Major). The D/F# (V6/4) chord in the verses also provides a smoother bass line and voice leading.

Similar Chord Progressions

Musical Analysis

“As Tears Go By” adheres to a style typical of the 1960s folk-pop ballad, with simple, repetitive harmonic progressions and a verse-based structure. The inclusion of a borrowed chord (A Major) adds an element of subtle tension and unexpectedness, which is a common element in pop music from this era.

Overall Analysis

The Rolling Stones’ “As Tears Go By” is primarily in the key of G major and follows a Verse-Verse-Verse-Outro structure. The harmony is relatively simple, incorporating primarily diatonic chords from the G major scale as well as a few borrowed chords and inversions.

Chord Progression Analysis (Outro):
G Major (I) – A Major (V/vi, borrowed from E minor) – C Major (IV) – D Major (V) – G Major (I)

Style Analysis

1. The Beatles – “I Will” (1968)
Chord Progression: F Major (I) – A Major (V/vi, borrowed from D minor) – Bb Major (IV) – C Major (V) – F Major (I)

2. The Mamas and the Papas – “California Dreamin’” (1965)
Chord Progression: A Minor (i) – G Major (VII) – F Major (VI) – C Major (III) – G Major (VII) – A Minor (i)

3. Bob Dylan – “Girl from the North Country” (1963)
Chord Progression: C Major (I) – D Major (V/V, borrowed from G major) – F Major (IV) – G Major (V) – C Major (I)

In summary, “As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones employs a simple, diatonic chord progression with some borrowed chords to add interest. It follows a popular 1960s folk-pop ballad style and shares similarities with other songs from the same era by artists like The Beatles, The Mamas and the Papas, and Bob Dylan.

Chords in the Outro section of As Tears Go By by The Rolling Stones are:

G, A, C, D, G