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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, “As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones, is primarily in the key of G major. Its chord progression contains elements of classic pop songwriting, particularly from the 1960s, featuring major and minor chords, functional harmony, and a few borrowed chords. The verse has a repeating chord sequence that eventually concludes with a resolution to the tonic chord.

The chord progression in the chorus of Muse’s “Apocalypse Please” consists of a mix of diatonic chords and borrowed chords from the parallel major and minor keys. The progression features strong harmonic movement with a pivot modulation. Muse is known for their dramatic, often symphonic rock sound, and this progression is no exception in showing off their signature style. The progression also shares some similarities with other artists’ works in both structure and harmonic content.

“Get You” by Daniel Caesar is a soulful R&B ballad featuring a smooth and emotive chord progression that is both melancholic and uplifting. The progression is derived from the key of D major, but features a borrowed chord from its parallel minor key, D minor, which adds a unique flair to the song. Daniel Caesar’s vocal performance, accompanied by soulful instrumentation, creates a sense of nostalgia and emotional evocation that is characteristic of the R&B genre.

The progression for the chorus of “Sometimes It Snows In April” by Prince exhibits a rich mixture of non- diatonic chords and borrowed chords. The tonal center of the song is A, but it doesn’t strictly follow a specific major or minor scale, creating an interesting blend of light and dark tonalities. This characteristic is a common feature in Prince’s works, showing his notable talent for blending the traditional with the unconventional.

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.

**

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’]