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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.

“Heartbreaker” by The Rolling Stones is a rock song that exhibits some fundamental rock and blues progressions and chord changes. The chorus of the song is a three-chord progression [E, G, C] that repeats four times.

“A Star Is Born – Shallow” by Misc Soundtrack uses common chords found in pop music and combines them in a fresh way. The progression makes use of diatonic chords and even includes a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key. It showcases a feasible balance of tension and resolution, often transitioning through a variety of chord inversions to add color and depth to the harmonies. The song moves around the circle of fifths, which allows for smooth transitions between keys.

The chord progression in Muse’s Hysteria (verse 2) is a fairly unique progression that revolves around a minor tonality with some hints of E7 acting as a secondary dominant. It seems to have an ambiguous key center, fluctuating between E minor and A minor. The progression is repeated, providing a sense of tension and familiarity throughout the verse.

“And I Love Her” by The Beatles is predominantly set within the key of F# minor. Apart from the chorus that momentarily modulates to the key of D minor, the verses embrace a darker, melancholic atmosphere portrayed by the minor keys. The tonal structure and chord progressions in the song are reflective of the band’s exploration of intricate harmonies, going beyond the simple three-chord structures of many contemporary pop songs of the time.

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’]