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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a cover of the original song by Fleetwood Mac, and it blends rock and folk styles. The song features a variety of chords which predominantly mixes major and minor chords to evoke strong emotions. The simple yet effective chord progression emphasizes the sentiment of the lyrics, illustrating the theme of introspection and feeling a loss of control.

“Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins is an alternative rock song released in 1995. The song is in the key of E minor and primarily uses power chords derived from the E minor scale throughout the song. Power chords or ‘5’ chords, like B5 or G5, don’t have a major or minor quality and are often used in rock music for their strong and neutral sound. The song also applies modal mixture (borrowing chords from parallel keys) for color and tension.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Lost Cause” by Beck showcases a simple yet effective pattern utilizing major chords and a dominant seventh chord, which creates tension and resolution throughout the progression. The song is in C major, and the chords predominantly follow the diatonic harmony of the key. The style is reminiscent of folk and alternative rock, with the harmony playing a significant role in evoking a sense of melancholy in the listener.

Muse’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is a rock interpretation of the classic 1967 pop song “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli, which has been covered by various artists in different styles. The chord progression of the chorus is characterized by a series of diatonic chords, predominant in Western pop music. This progression follows a typical 1950’s “doowop” pattern present in countless pop and rock songs, utilizing the familiar circle of fourths movement (Dm-G-C) and establishing a straightforward harmonic rhythm.

Chord Progression Analysis with Roman Numerals (borrowed chords in code block):

D minor (iv) – G major (VII) – C major (I) – A minor (vi) – D minor (iv) – G major (VII) – C major (I) – A major (V/vi) – D minor (iv) – G major (VII) – C major (I) – A minor (vi) – D minor (iv) – G major (VII) – C major 7 (Imaj7) – C7 (I7) – C6 (I6) – C major (I) – Ab major (*bVI) – C major (I)

`* Ab major (bVI) is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (C minor).`

“Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails utilizes a unique four-chord cycle in its chorus – ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘G’. The song is in the key of E minor, and therefore, the functional analysis would interpret this progression as i-IV-bVI-III. The bVI and III are borrowed chords from the parallel major scale. This chord progression creates a moody atmosphere that aligns with the overall melancholic and introspective theme of the song.

The Smashing Pumpkins – Landslide – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘D/F#’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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“`G (I), D/F# (V/ii), Em (ii), C (IV), G6 (I6), Am (vi), D/F# (V/ii), G (I), D/F# (V/ii), Em (ii), C (IV), G6 (I6), Am (vi), G6 (I6), C (IV), G6 (I6), Am (vi).“`

– G: Tonic – the chord the progression is based on and resolves to.
– D/F#: Secondary dominant – the major triad or dominant seventh chord built on the supertonic (second scale degree)
– Em: Supertonic – usually leads to the dominant or tonic, providing some instability.
– C: Subdominant – precedes the dominant chord (D), giving a sense of coming home.
– G6: An extended tonic chord, adding variety to the sound.
– Am: Submediant – A minor chord built on the sixth degree of the G major scale. Provides variety and some minor color to the progression.

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Similar Chord Progressions

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1) “Let It Be” by The Beatles

“`C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV), C (I), G (V), F (IV), C (I)“`

2) “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley

“`C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV)“`

These songs share similar chord progressions with “Landslide”, primarily because they use the same primary chords (I, IV, and V) and the vi chord in their progressions. This chord progression is known as the pop or doo-wop progression. Notably, they also mix the major and minor mood to denote depth and nuance to the overall feeling of the songs.

Musical Analysis

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“Landslide” predominantly features folk-inspired finger picking on the acoustic guitar, allowing the beauty of the chord progression to shine through. The progression is cyclical and repetitive, creating an almost hypnotic effect that aids in the conveyance of the song’s introspective mood. The addition of the G6 chord is a notable color chord, supplying a distinct emotional texture to the progression.

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Overall Analysis

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“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins, originally by Fleetwood Mac, is written in the key of G major. The song features simple, but effective, chord progressions that are common in the folk and rock genres. The progression utilizes primary chords in the key (G, D, and C), along with some modal mixture via the borrowing of the minor iv chord (C) and minor vi chord (Am) from the parallel minor key (G minor). The secondary dominant D/F# creates tension and movement towards the Em chord. There is also the use of a G6 chord which adds color to the piece.

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Style Analysis

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The Smashing Pumpkins’ version of “Landslide” stays true to the original Fleetwood Mac recording. The chord progression reflects strong folk and rock influences with its repeated patterns and simple, open chords. A definitive element of this song and its chord progression is the constant interplay between the major and minor mood, a technique often used in introspective and emotionally driven songs.

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Chords in the Chorus section of Landslide by The Smashing Pumpkins are:

[‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘D/F#’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’]