The Rolling Stones – Wild Horses – Verse 2
Wild Horses < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Verse 2 chord progression:
“`
B minor (iii)
G Major (I)
B minor (iii)
G Major (I)
A minor (ii)
C Major (IV)
D Major (V)
G Major (I)
D Major (V)
B minor (iii)
G Major (I)
B minor (iii)
G Major (I)
A minor (ii)
C Major (IV)
D Major (V)
G Major (I)
D Major (V)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
1. Oasis – “Wonderwall” : Em7, G, Dsus4, A7sus4 (ii, IV, I, V)
2. Bob Dylan – “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” : G, D, Am (I, V, ii)
3. The Animals – “House of the Rising Sun” : Am, C, D, F (i, III, IV, VI)
Note: These chord progressions are not necessarily in the same key, but they follow the same relative structure to the chords/modal interchange in “Wild Horses”.
Musical Analysis
The sequence starts with a couple of transition from B minor to G Major (iii-I), which is not a standard progression in the key of G Major – this implies a little bit of modal interchange, as Bm is not naturally found in G Major, but in G Lydian mode (IV of D Major). This is followed by a common ii-IV-V-I progression (Am-C-D-G), which is a hallmark of many styles of Western music. The determined progression is then repeated once more, giving the song its recognizable sound.
Overall Analysis
“Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones is performed in the key of G major. However, the initial chord progression beginning on B minor gives it a modal feel, specifically borrowing chords from G Lydian mode (IV of D Major). It’s an interesting mixture of folky rock with a touch of the blues, and the chord progression is largely based around the typical I-IV-V progression found in many rock songs, but with many deviations and additions.
Key: G Major
Style Analysis
“Wild Horses” exhibits a distinctive blend of folk and rock, borrowing equally from American country music and the English rock tradition. The lyrics, melody, and chord progression all contribute to the heartfelt, slightly melancholic mood of the song. The unconventional iii-I progression at the start of each sequence, taken together with the more traditional ii-IV-V-I progression that follows, creates a memorable combination that perfectly complements the song’s lyrical content.
What are the chords in: The Rolling Stones – Wild Horses – Verse 2?
[‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’]
