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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Honky Tonk Women” is a classic blues-infused rock and roll track, like many songs by The Rolling Stones. The guitar riffs and solo (though not discussed here) clearly show blues influence in their use of the pentatonic scale and common blues licks.

The chord progression used for verse 2 is a typical example of a classic rock chord progression, with a key center around G, utilizing the dominant chords of the key in a I-IV-I-V-IV-I-IV-I progression.

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.

“3 Libras Acoustic Live” by A Perfect Circle revolves around a rock ballad style with an alternative rock genre. It features distinctive chord progressions and some borrowing from outside of the primary key. The harmonic progression in the chorus is relatively simple but contributes to the melancholic and introspective atmosphere of the song.

“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” is a pop song by Elton John from the album “Caribou,” released in 1974. The song is set in the key of C Major, with some interesting chord changes and borrowed chords that are rich and reflective of Elton John’s unique harmonic style. The chorus especially impresses with unexpected chord shifts, demonstrating a sophisticated songwriting technique.

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” is a pop ballad written in the key of G major. The progression makes traditional use of the G major chord scale with a notable exception of a borrowed chord A/C#.

The Rolling Stones – Honky Tonk Women – Chorus

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

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The chord progression of the chorus is simple, alternating between the tonic (G) and the dominant (D). Here is the full listing of the chord names and their corresponding roman numerals:

– G Major (‘I’)
– D Major (‘V’)
– G Major (‘I’)
– G Major (‘I’)
– D Major (‘V’)
– G Major (‘I’)
– G Major (‘I’)
– D Major (‘V’)
– G Major (‘I’)
– G Major (‘I’)
– D Major (‘V’)
– G Major (‘I’)

There’s no borrowed chord from a parallel key, so no specific chord in this progression counted as a borrowed chord.

“`code block
None borrowed chord
“`

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Similar Chord Progressions

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Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and Beatles’ “Let it Be” represent similar usage of I-V chord movement.

Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” in the key of D Major often alternates between D (‘I’) and A (‘V’).

The Beatles’ “Let it Be” uses the I-V movement in its verse, alternating between C (‘I’) and G (‘V’) if we consider it in the key of C Major.

Musical Analysis

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“Honky Tonk Women” features a catchy, simple chord progression, which lends itself well to the bluesy, rock ‘n’ roll style of the Rolling Stones. The regular alternation between the tonic (‘I’) and the dominant (‘V’) creates a relaxed and consistent musical landscape, upon which the melody, lyrics and instrumental lines play out. This alternating I-V pattern hearkens back to basic 12-bar blues progressions, a key component of many rock and roll songs.

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Overall Analysis

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“Honky Tonk Women” by the Rolling Stones is a classic rock track steeped in the blues tradition. The song is played in the key of G Major and primarily uses chords G, C, A, and D.

**Chorus

Style Analysis

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The Rolling Stones style can be linked to the blues and earlier rock ‘n’ roll. With a straightforward, cyclic chord progression, “Honky Tonk Women” provides a sturdy structure for the catchy, narrative lyrics and Mick Jagger’s characteristic vocal performance. The song represents the band’s ability to update the blues for the rock era, combining the raw energy of rock with the emotional intensity of the blues.

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Chords in the Chorus section of Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones are:

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