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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.

“Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones, from their album “Sticky Fingers” (1971), features a fairly straightforward repetitive chord progression of D, A, G, D in the verse. The key here is D Major. This common progression falls into a I-V-IV-I pattern known as a “plagal cadence”. It’s a progression which consists of a major key followed by its dominant (V), then its subdominant (IV), taking us back to the tonic (I).

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin is a hard rock song that was released in 1969. The song features a famous guitar riff with a simple, blues-influenced chord progression. That guitar riff is based on the D and E chords and can be heard throughout the main part of the song. The verse consists of the same primary chords as the riff, with slight variations in the E chord during the iconic “You need cooling” vocal part. The overall harmonic structure of the song with its repeating chords D and E gives it a strong I-V dynamic while staying in the D Mixolydian mode. Additionally, the guitar riff borrows elements of other blues progressions, creating a distinguished sound.

Let It Happen’ by Tame Impala employs an accessible and effective chord progression, usual in pop/rock music, yet has unusualness due to the usage of the G#sus4 chord, providing a unique tonal flavor and emotional quality. There is a striking use of harmonic contrast and a continuous return and release of tension throughout the song. This creates an immersive cyclical quality, complementing the song’s theme of embracing inevitable moments and experiences.

“Penny Lane” by The Beatles is an eclectic and elegant piece of music evident in its rhythm, harmony, melody, and lyrics. It is predominantly in the key of A Major, but it has several key changes and introduces chords that are non-diatonic, giving it a progressive and unexpected feel.

The Rolling Stones – Beast Of Burden – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘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)
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
C# minor (vi)
A Major (IV)
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
C# minor (vi)
A Major (IV)
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
C# minor (vi)
A Major (IV)
“`
In terms of functional harmony, this sequence forms a very common progression pattern:
I (tonic) – V (dominant) – vi (submediant) – IV (subdominant)

Similar Chord Progressions

Many songs use the I-V-vi-IV progression, as it’s one of the most common in popular music. Some examples include:

– “Let It Be” by The Beatles
– “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley
– “Umbrella” by Rihanna
– “When I Come Around” by Green Day

“Let It Be” by The Beatles in C major:

“`
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
Am minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
“`

“No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley in C major:

“`
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
Am minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
“`

“Umbrella” by Rihanna in B major:

“`
B Major (I)
F# Major (V)
G#m minor (vi)
E Major (IV)
“`

“When I Come Around” by Green Day in F major:

“`
F Major (I)
C Major (V)
Dm minor (vi)
Bb Major (IV)
“`
Each of these examples use the same pattern but in different keys.

Musical Analysis

This is a classic rock progression in modern music, and it has a strong resolution that leads back to the I chord. The dominant (V) to tonic (I) movement is a strong resolution in Western music, creating a sense of return and completion. The vi chord adds a layer of melancholy into the mix but doesn’t stray far from the major key tonality. The IV chord provides a strong pull towards the I chord.

Overall Analysis

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.

Style Analysis

This progression is very typical of the Rolling Stone’s style and of other rock/pop music from the 1960s and 70s. It is catchy, repetitive, and easy to follow. As the chords are derived from the E major scale, the overall mood is bright and upbeat, yet the inclusion of the vi chord brings a touch of melancholy – often referred to as ‘bittersweet’ in terms of musical emotion.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Beast Of Burden by The Rolling Stones are:

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