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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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“Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones is arranged in a minor key, specifically E minor. The verse chord progression of the song exhibits a fairly common pattern in 60’s rock and pop music, incorporating the use of both diatonic chords and borrowed chords from the parallel major key.

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“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones is a popular song from the mid-60s that features a mix of major and minor chords along with modulations between closely related keys. The overall harmonic structure shares similarities with other rock and pop songs of that era, including The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

Base Key and

This song, “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”, is arguably one of Green Day’s most iconic hits off their album “American Idiot”. Musically, it is set in the key of E minor, with an intermediate tempo. Its chord progression is simple but effective, proven by the song’s tremendous success.

“The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel is a song from the folk-rock genre. Built on simplicity with few chords used throughout the whole song, the primary focus of the song is on the hauntingly beautiful melody and the profound lyrics. It is written in the key of Am which gives the song a melancholic and somber tone.

This is a rich verse chord progression where The Beatles use diatonic and borrowed chords to enrich the melody. This progression follows their signature style of pop music with strong melodious and harmonic elements.

The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black – Verse 5

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

The verse structure for “Paint It Black” has an intriguing yet accessible chord progression. Let’s label these chords in the context of Em, the tonic key of the song.

Chord Progression:
– E minor (‘i’)
– B Major (‘V’)
– E minor (‘i’)
– B Major (‘V’)
– E minor (‘i’)
– D Major (‘VII’)
– G Major (‘III’)
– D Major (‘VII’)
– E minor (‘i’)
– E minor (‘i’)
– D Major (‘VII’)
– G Major (‘III’)
– D Major (‘VII’)
– A Major (‘IV’)
– B Major (‘V’)

“`{Chord Progression Code Block}
i – V – i – V – i – VII – III – VII – i – i – VII – III – VII – IV – V
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “I Want To Tell You” by The Beatles uses a similar progression in its choruses:
– A Major (‘IV’)
– E minor (‘i’)
– B Major (‘V’)
– A Major (‘IV’)
– B Major (‘V’)

2. “Baba O’Riley” by The Who also uses a progression with a similar feel in its intro/verses:
– F Major (‘VI’)
– Bb Major (‘III’)
– C Major (‘IV’)
– F Major (‘VI’)

Remember that while chord progressions can sound similar, the way each artist uses them can create completely unique pieces of music.

Musical Analysis

In a conventional minor key progression, the V chord is minor. However, in “Paint It Black”, the V (B Major) is major. This could be attributed to the harmonic minor key, where the V is usually a major chord. In addition, the D Major could be also seen as a borrowed chord from the parallel major scale (E Major). The presence of D and A Major chords give the progression an unusual, yet striking quality, compared to a standard minor key progression.

Overall Analysis

“Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones is a masterful example of the band’s ability to incorporate a variety of musical elements into a rock setting. This song, in particular, unites a classic rock ‘n roll backbone with an exotic influence, likely derived from Eastern music, especially with the use of the sitar.

Style Analysis

The Rolling Stones were renowned for their versatility and incorporation of various musical styles. “Paint It Black” stands out for its fusion of rock with elements of Eastern music. The presence of the sitar, an instrument traditionally used in Indian music, added an exotic flavor to the song.

Chords in the Verse 5 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’]