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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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 of “Beast Of Burden” by The Rolling Stones from verse 3 appears to be a standard pop/rock progression with a bit of melodic flavor. It features the chords of E major, B major, C# minor, and A major.

The song is in the key of E Major as that’s the chord the progression starts and ends with, and most of the chords are from the E major scale. There are no borrowed chords, and the progression is repetitive, maintaining a loop throughout most of the song.

Let’s move on to the detailed chord progression analysis, chord names, and their roman numerals.

The chord progression in the outro of Weezer’s “Undone – The Sweater Song” follows a repeating pattern with a combination of major and power chords. The overall key of the progression is G major, and the chords follow a predictable pattern that is rooted in rock and alternative music styles. The chord progression uses borrowed chords from the parallel key of G minor, specifically the B♭ major chord.

“Hurt”, written by Nine Inch Nails, exudes melancholy and despair through a slow progression that weaves intricate melodies between the chords. The tonality is primarily in B minor, but introduces D, E, A, and G chords throughout, indicating some mode mixture or borrowed chord use.

The chord progression in the famous outro of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ illustrates the eccentricity Queen was known for throughout their discography. This section consists of bold modulations, chromatic chord progressions, and borrowed chords, showing off Freddie Mercury’s compositional sophistication and creativity. It’s evident that Mercury’s influence for this song came from various musical genres, including progressive rock, classical, and operatic music.

The Rolling Stones – Beast Of Burden – Outro

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
C# Minor (vi)
A Major (IV)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

A vast number of pop and rock songs use this same chord progression. Here are a few examples:

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey:
“`
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
C# Minor (vi)
A Major (IV)
“`
Let It Be by The Beatles:
“`
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
“`
Can You Feel The Love Tonight by Elton John:
“`
Bb Major (I)
F Major (V)
G Minor (vi)
Eb Major (IV)
“`
In conclusion, the chord progression in the outro of Beast Of Burden is classic and has been commonly used in rock and pop music because of its pleasant consonance and harmonic continuity.

Musical Analysis

This chord sequence falls into a tried-and-true pattern of pop and rock music progressions: the I-V-vi-IV. Starting with the I chord (E Major) puts the song firmly in the key of E Major. This is followed by the V chord (B Major) leading to the vi chord (C# Minor), which often acts as the relative minor to the E Major. Then going from the vi chord to IV chord (A Major) is a move down a third, a smooth and typical chord progression.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

The style of this chord progression is typical of The Rolling Stones’ blues-influenced rock music. The guitar-based songs mainly use common open chords (like E, B, and A) mixed with barre chords (like C# Minor). The progression is rhythmically driven, with its chugging acoustic guitar strum pattern and complimentary bass line.

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

[‘E’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’]