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The song, “As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones, is primarily in the key of G major. Its chord progression contains elements of classic pop songwriting, particularly from the 1960s, featuring major and minor chords, functional harmony, and a few borrowed chords. The verse has a repeating chord sequence that eventually concludes with a resolution to the tonic chord.

“Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones uses a common rock arrangement with a focus on the V, I, and vi chords. The distinguishing factor for this particular progression is its consistent use of inverted chords to create more linear, and stepwise, bass lines.

The chord progression “[‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘D’]” from the outro of Weezer’s “The Good Life” is a simple, yet effective progression in the key of E minor. It demonstrates a melancholic feel common to alternative rock and power-pop music genres of the 1990s. The chords in this progression are borrowed from the E natural minor scale.

The outro of “Heart Is A Drum” by Beck features a non-diatonic chord progression that includes a mixture of major, minor, and suspended chords. This chord progression results in a sense of longing and unresolved tension that is appropriate for an outro section. Additionally, the progression includes a borrowed chord, the Eb6sus2, which is borrowed from the parallel minor key and contributes to the unique, emotional quality of the song.

The given chord progression is in the key of C Major and follows a simple, yet effective structure. It features a blend of consonance and dissonance, which creates a sense of resolution and tension simultaneously. This progression is characteristic of Radiohead’s unique sound and their ability to create emotive landscapes through their music.

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