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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones is a famous Rock song heavily influenced by the Indian classical form of music called Raga rock. The song is written in E minor and it has a very distinctively descending minor key tonality. The chords progression in the verse sequence doesn’t follow the conventional rules of western tonal harmony as it navigates through various key centers, showcasing the bands exploration of exotic and unconventional songwriting.

“Miss You” by The Rolling Stones is in the key of A minor. The main chord progression in the song is quite consistent — Am, Dm, Am, Am, Dm, Am, Am, Dm — with some variations in the bridge. The song’s chord progression is bluesy in nature, given the usage of minor chords and the parallel movement. In particular, the usage of E, the V chord in A Minor, gives a resolution back to the root chord (Am), which gives the song a sense of tension and release.

“Heart Is A Drum” by Beck, from the album Morning Phase (2014), features a simple but effective chord progression in the key of C major. This song can be classified as alternative folk rock, and the harmonies used in the chord progression are quite common in this genre, as well as popular music in general. The progression creates a sense of nostalgia and emotional resonance, elevated by Beck’s lyricism and vocal delivery.

The chord progression in the verse 2 of “House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals is an iconic progression in popular music. The song is in the key of A minor, and is built using diatonic and borrowed chords with some chromaticism. The progression features a strong sense of movement and resolution, with the mix of major and minor chords creating an emotional and dramatic atmosphere.

“Someone to Love” by Queen is a rock song infused with gospel and blues influences. It’s written in the key of Ab major but the second verse you have provided seems to be in G major.

The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘B’]

Chord 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.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones are:

[‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Em’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘B’]