Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Heartbreaker” by The Rolling Stones is a classic rock song that utilizes a chord progression that is stereotypical of the genre. The verse and chorus unfold in the key of E minor, with the verse using primarily a cycle of Em7 and Am7. In terms of musical mood and expressivity, the progression conveys a melancholic yet energetic feeling, which is characteristic of the rock genre.

“Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones is a song in the key of G Major with a chord progression marked by the use of common chords and a few borrowed chords from other keys. The usage of minor and major chords conjures a variety of emotions synonymous with the mood of the song. The repetitive nature of the sequence creates a cyclical feeling that gives a strong sense of the song’s emotional journey.

The chord progression in the chorus of Beck’s “Think I’m In Love” is a fairly simple one that revolves around two key centers, Ab major and Eb major. The main chords used are based on the I-IV-V structure which is common in rock and pop music. It features a major I-IV relationship and an unexpected chord, F major, which adds some harmonic interest.

“I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues” is a well-known hit by Elton John from the album “Too Low for Zero” released in 1983. The song is a blend of pop, rock and blues styles and showcases Elton John’s proficiency in blending different music genres. The verse uses a straightforward I-V-vi-IV progression which is a common progression in pop music.

The Chorus’s

The chorus of Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” utilizes a chord progression that elevates the song’s emotional resonance, serving as a climactic counterpart to the reflective verses. This section combines lush harmonies with straightforward pop sensibilities, creating a poignant and memorable musical moment that aligns with the song’s thematic exploration of self-awareness and complexity.

The Rolling Stones – Heartbreaker – Chorus

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Given the key of the song is E Major, the three basic triads in the aforementioned section are E Major, G Major, and C Major. The full chord names and their corresponding Roman numerals are as follows:

– E Major (‘I’)
– G Major (‘♭III’)
– C Major (‘♭VI’)

The Roman numerals indicate the position of the chord within the key itself. So, in this case, the E Major corresponds to the ‘I’, or the first chord in E Major. The borrowed chords in the progression are G Major and C Major. They are borrowed from the key of E minor, positioning G and C as the flat third and flat sixth chords respectively.

Code Block:

“`music
Borrowed Chords: G Major (‘♭III’), C Major (‘♭VI’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in the song “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, which employs the use of major and minor chords, as well as borrowed chords to create a dynamic and compelling auditory experience. It uses the progression [‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘D’] for the verse and chorus

Chord progression of “Free Bird” with the full chord names are:

– G Major (‘I’)
– D Major (‘V’)
– E minor (‘vi’)
– F Major (‘♭VII’)
– C Major (‘IV’)
– D Major (‘V’)

The borrowed chord in the verse is F, so not the exact same chords as ‘Heartbreaker’, but the use of borrowed chords in a similar genre makes it a fitting comparison.

Musical Analysis

This sequence of major chords is not uncommon in Western music and makes the listener subtly aware of descending motion. Ascending in pitch but descending in terms of the scale degrees. It’s a method used frequently in order to create tension and anticipation before resolving back to the tonic chord (E Major in this case).

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

The style exhibited in this song is typical of The Rolling Stones—blues-rock with a rebellious edge. The use of major chords gives the chorus a bright, powerful sound, which contrasts with the darker verses underlined by minor chords. The incorporation of borrowed chords, which are more commonly associated with minor keys, introduces a sense of unease or tension into the otherwise major-key song. This is a characteristic feature of the Stones’ songwriting, enabling them to blend cheerful choruses with more thought-provoking verses.

Chords in the Chorus section of Heartbreaker by The Rolling Stones are:

[‘E’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘E’]