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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Beast of Burden,” by The Rolling Stones, a song characterized by a typical rock-pop structure, primarily uses a IV-chord loop in the key of E major. The chord progression in the outro follows a specific sequence: E, to B, to C#m, to A. The return to the E at the end of the progression gives it a circular feel that encourages cohesion.

“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 given chord progression is from the chorus of “Earfquake” by Tyler, The Creator, a contemporary hip-hop and neo-soul artist. The progression features a smooth and mellow tonality, characterized by the use of 7th chords. The chord progression is in the key of Bb Major and showcases the use of mostly diatonic chords with a repetition that contributes to the song’s catchy nature.

The chord progression in the chorus of Radiohead’s “Knives Out” is an interesting and unconventional one, making use of some borrowed chords and a mix of major and minor tonalities. The overall style of the song can be described as alternative rock with some influences of jazz harmony and chromaticism, creating a unique and moody atmosphere. The progression is mostly diatonic, but it also incorporates some borrowed chords from parallel modes to add color and tension.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day, released in 2004, is an alt-rock anthem that largely follows a 4-chord progression throughout the song. The key signature of the song is E minor (derived from the root chord), and essentially all chords used in the song are diatonic, meaning they are derived from the scales of the key. The chorus shifts to a progression in C Major. However, it returns to E minor at the end.

The Rolling Stones – Beast Of Burden – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘B’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The chorus sequence [A, E/G#, A, E/G#, B] comes out as follows:

“`
A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), B Major (‘V’)
“`

In context of E major, A Major is the IV, E Major is the I, and B Major is the V. The E/G# denotes an inversion, which means the G# (the 3rd of the E Major chord) is in the bass.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, with the progression:

“`
D Major (‘IV’), A Major/E (‘I’), D Major (‘IV’), A Major/E (‘I’), E Major (‘V’)
“`

2. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, notably the chorus, with the progression:

“`
A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), A Major (‘IV’), E Major/G# (‘I’), B Major (‘V’)
“`
These songs share similar progressions to “Beast of Burden”, employing the IV-I movement and utilizing inverted chords to create melodically interesting baselines.

Musical Analysis

In this progression, The Rolling Stones use an interesting combination of major, minor, and inverted chords to lend an unsettled yet still grounded feel to the song. The E/G# inversions serve as a passing tone, smoothing the transition between the A and B chords.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

The Rolling Stones often favor blues-influenced progressions, but “Beast of Burden” deviates from this slightly by interspersing more pop-esque IV-I movements. Still, the band’s rock ‘n’ roll roots declare themselves in the climactic shift from I to V, providing a punchy resolve.

Chords in the Chorus section of Beast Of Burden by The Rolling Stones are:

[‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘B’]