The Rolling Stones – Dead Flowers – Verse 1
Dead Flowers < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Here is the breakdown of the chord progression in verse 1:
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
The progression repeats this four-chord phrase four times within the verse. This is a pretty standard progression in many popular music genres.
Here is the borrowed chord listing in a coded block for this part of the song:
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No borrowed chords in this section.
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Similar Chord Progressions
Similar three-chord progressions (I, V, IV) can be found in countless songs. Notably:
– “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd: D Major (I), C Major (bVII), G Major (IV).
– “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen: A Major (I), D Major (IV), E Major (V).
Instead of fully resolving back to the I after the IV, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” begins its progression again at the I, like “Dead Flowers.” “Louie Louie,” meanwhile, resolves to the V, which prolongs the sense of musical tension.
It’s worth noting that while these progressions are similar in chord formula, they each have distinct feels due largely to rhythm, melody, production, lyrics, and other musical elements. These songs sound distinct despite their harmonic similarities. This is a testament to the variety and depth that can be achieved with simple harmonic structures in music.
Musical Analysis
The chord progression within this song is not just standard, but rather archetypical. The D Major (I) to A Major (V) represents a perfect cadence, offering a sense of finality and resolution. The move from A Major (V) to G Major (IV) is a progression from dominant to subdominant, suggesting a continuation. The return to D Major (I) completes the progression and resets for the following phrase, making these four measures a complete musical thought.
Overall Analysis
Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones is a classic track that exhibits some very traditional aspects of popular music and blues-based rock. The song is in D major and follows a fairly standard chord progression, using only three chords (D, A, and G), which make up four-measure phrases that are repeated throughout this part of the song.
Style Analysis
The Rolling Stones are known for their blues-inspired rock, and that certainly shines through in this chord progression. Many blues progressions commonly cycle through the I, IV, and V chords, in similar patterns, though often with the addition of seventh chords. As for “Dead Flowers,” despite its simplicity, the progression has a very distinct sense of direction and resolution, adding to its catchy nature.
What are the chords in: The Rolling Stones – Dead Flowers – Verse 1?
[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’]
