The Rolling Stones – Wild Horses – Verse 3
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
Note the following chord names correspond to the Verse 3 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)
This shows a frequently alternating I-iii progression, which then passes to a fairly standard ii-IV-V-I cycle (A minor, C Major, D Major, G Major), with the addition of a V-I at the end that reaffirms the tonality.
In explaining borrowed chords, they are none in this particular progression. A borrowed chord, typically seen in popular music, comes from the parallel minor key. Here, all chords belong to the key of G Major.
Similar Chord Progressions
A number of other artists have used similar chord progressions, including:
– John Lennon’s “Imagine”, which uses a progression that includes the ii-IV-V-I cycle (in the key of C major, this corresponds to Dm, F, G, C)
D minor (ii), F Major (IV), G Major (V), C Major (I)
– The Beatles’ “Let It Be”, which also features a ii-IV-V-I progression (in the key of C major, this corresponds to Dm, F, G, C)
D minor (ii), F Major (IV), G Major (V), C Major (I)
Both of these songs, like “Wild Horses”, combine elements of rock, folk, and blues in their musical style.
Musical Analysis
From a musical perspective, it’s worth noting that the iii chord (Bm) lends an unexpected color to the tonality of the song, giving it a unique character. The ii-IV-V-I cycle creates a sense of forward motion and resolution, with the V-I at the end providing a satisfying sense of returning home.
Overall Analysis
“Wild Horses” is a song by the rock band Rolling Stones from their 1971 album “Sticky Fingers”. It is a great example of the band’s adeptness not only at writing catchy rock songs but also at creating complex and interesting chord progressions. The song is in the key of G major. The verse progression is interesting with the use of the B minor chord (Bm), which is the iii chord in the key of G major – a chord that isn’t commonly used in popular music.
Style Analysis
In terms of style, “Wild Horses” exhibits a clear influence from country and folk music, both in its chord progression and in its instrumentation (acoustic guitars, gentle percussion, and characteristic slide guitar). The use of the iii chord (Bm) also adds a touch of blues influence, which is a cornerstone of the Rolling Stones’ style.
What are the chords in: The Rolling Stones – Wild Horses – Verse 3?
[‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’]
