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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones is a classic rock tune that is characterized by its simple yet effective chord progressions. The key of this song is D Major. This song utilizes mostly major chords (D, A, and G), and it has a strong emphasis on the I-IV-V chord progression, a staple in many rock, blues, and pop music.

“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones is a rock and roll song prominently featuring electric guitar and piano, characterized by its driving groove and catchy chorus. The base key for the song is C Major. The harmonic progression is fairly simple and stays mainly within the diatonic chords, with some occasional borrowing from other modes.

“My Name Is Jonas” by Weezer is a 90s alternative rock song featuring a catchy chord progression and memorable melodies. The verse 2 chord progression consists of a repeated set of chords: C, G, Am, F. This progression is common in popular music and creates a sense of familiarity for the listener. The key is C Major.

The chord progression in the verse 2 of “House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals is an iconic progression in popular music. The song is in the key of A minor, and is built using diatonic and borrowed chords with some chromaticism. The progression features a strong sense of movement and resolution, with the mix of major and minor chords creating an emotional and dramatic atmosphere.

The chord progression featured in Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack” Verse 2 is a four-chord loop that moves from G major to C major (acting as a suspension) and B minor (with an added 9th), creating an interesting mix of tonalities and suspensions. The progression establishes G major as the tonal center but continually moves away from it, creating a sense of ambiguity.

The Rolling Stones – Dead Flowers – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
D Major (‘I’), A Major (‘V’), G Major (‘IV’), D Major (‘I’)
“`
In the context of the key, no borrowed chords are present.

Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in the following songs:
1. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
– D (‘I’), C (‘bVII’), G (‘IV’), D (‘I’)
2. “Already Gone” by The Eagles
– G (‘I’), D (‘V’), C (‘IV’), G (‘I’)

Both these songs use very similar chord progressions, and their vibes and themes resonate with “Dead Flowers”. They also fall into the rock/country hybrid genre The Rolling Stones ventured into with this song.

Musical Analysis

In terms of music theory, “Dead Flowers” stands out for its simple yet effective chord progression. The pattern of I-V-IV-I creates a solid foundation for the melody. It’s a simple circle of progression that starts and ends on the same chord, creating a cyclical harmonic motion throughout the song. This is a hallmark of the Rolling Stones’ songwriting style: basic harmonic structures embellished by distinctive melodic and rhythmic elements, mainly driven by the lead guitar riffs and the vocals.

Overall Analysis

“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).

Style Analysis

This chord progression reflects the Stones’ propensity for Americana and country-inspired rock. The simplicity and structure of the chords embody the essence of traditional country music, while their rock sensibility emerges in the song’s instrumentation and production.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones are:

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’]