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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones is a rock ballad with a minor tonality and is composed in the key of G major. The song incorporates the use of modal interchange, more commonly referred to as borrowed chords, from the parallel minor. This common technique in rock music contributes to the melancholic and emotionally resonant feeling of the song.

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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

“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.

“Lord Only Knows” by Beck showcases a simple yet effective chord progression in its Verse 2. The harmonic foundation of this progression is based on the I – V – IV – I pattern, repeated four times. This pattern is common in many popular music genres, with the verse featuring a strong tonic-dominant relationship. The progression also displays an interesting mix of major and minor chords, adding a certain level of spice to the harmonic atmosphere present in the verse.

The given chord progression is from Beck’s song “Sexx Laws” and runs as follows: B, G#, B, G#, B, G#, A, F#. This progression features chords mainly from the B Major key, but includes borrowed chords from the parallel minor key as well. The harmonic movement showcases Beck’s interesting approach to songwriting and shows some influence from the soul and funk genres.

The Rolling Stones – Wild Horses – Verse 2

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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.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones are:

[‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’]