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“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.

“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones, off their 1971 album Sticky Fingers, is in the key of C major, and primarily uses the chords C, F, G and Bb. This song showcases the band’s blues rock influences, built on a repetitive, riff-driven chord progression. The use of I, IV, V, and a borrowed bVII (Bb), which is common in the blues, creates an appealing and familiar sound, helping the song resonate with listeners.

“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.

“Creep” by Radiohead is a song in the key of G major that gained significant attention for its melancholic lyrics and distinctive chord progression. The verse chord progression features major chords, followed by a switch to a minor chord, which creates an unexpected twist and contributes to the emotive quality of the song. This specific progression is relatively rare in popular music but has been used in various other songs.

The chord progression can be divided into three main sections (please see the details below). The first section is based around the I chord (C), the second section introduces the IV chord (F), then it returns to the I chord. The third section introduces a borrowed chord (bVII – Bb from C Mixolydian), a V chord (G), then returns to the I chord with a brief excursion back to the V chord. There is repetition in this section with the return to the I chord.

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’]