The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black – Verse 2
Paint It Black < All Analyses
Chord Progression
Em, B, Em, B, Em, D, G, D, Em, Em, D, G, D, A, BChord Progression Analysis
Em (i),
B (V),
Em (i),
B (V),
Em (i),
D (vii),
G (III),
D (vii),
Em (i),
Em (i),
D (vii),
G (III),
D (vii),
A (IV),
B (V).
–
Similar Chord Progressions
Stylistically, the chord progression recalls “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, another song that plays heavily with minor tonality. The song “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix also exhibits a similar chord progression in the key of C minor (with the chords being Cm, G, Ab and Bb).
– The Animals – House of The Rising Sun:
Am (i), C (III), D (IV), F (VI), Am (i), E (V), Am (i).
– Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower:
Cm (i), G (V), Ab (bVI), Bb (bVII).
Musical Analysis
The music of “Paint It Black” is characterized by its minor tonality and the use of syncopated rhythms. The chords are strummed in a steady eighth-note rhythm, giving the track its driving feel. The melody of the song is centered around the E minor pentatonic scale, which gives it its haunting and heartfelt quality. The instrumentation includes a wide array of textures, including electric guitar and drums with the sitar, a traditional Indian instrument, as the primary lead instrument. This instrumentation gives the song an exotic and slightly psychedelic feel, further emphasizing the minor tonality of the piece.
–
Overall Analysis
“Paint It Black” plays with minor tonality, which isn’t extremely common in rock and roll music of the era. The song is in the key of E minor and uses the chords Em, B, D, G, and A. The verse has an interesting use of harmonies, incorporating the minor i, major V, minor iv, major bIII, and major IV chords.
–
Style Analysis
The song exhibits an unconventional approach to rock and roll, playing with minor tonality and uncommon instrumentation. There is a significant influence of Indian classical music, not just in the use of sitar but also in the melody, which is based on the E minor pentatonic scale, a tuning commonly used in Indian classical music. However, the song stays grounded in its rock roots through its use of typical rock instruments and song structure.
–
What are the chords in: The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black – Verse 2?
Em, B, Em, B, Em, D, G, D, Em, Em, D, G, D, A, B