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“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a subtly complicated piece of music. At first glance, the chord progression may seem simple, but it actually incorporates a number of rich musical techniques that give the song its iconic depth and emotional resonance. The song follows a simple yet powerful chord progression and relies heavily on the interplay between the root C major chord, the G6, and the Am minor. There is a recurring theme of returning to the G6, which creates tension and suggests feelings of melancholy or introspection.

“Bullet with Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins can be categorized as alternative rock. The chord progression showcases the grunge influence, with an emphasis on power chords and the use of suspended second chords which are often used to create ambiguity or tension.

“Perfect Situation” by Weezer is a pop-rock song that follows a standard verse-chorus format, with a strong focus on melody and harmony. The song is in the key of G major, and the chord progression provided is for the second verse. It features a simple, yet effective progression that creates a sense of movement and tension before resolving back to the tonic chord. This gives the song a very engaging, classic pop/rock feel.

“Let It Happen” by Tame Impala is characterized by its psychedelic and experimental nuances. It features an overall bright and uplifting tone despite its use of some more complex chords. The song ska common in pop music. The chord progression in question has a strong melodic sensibility demonstrating Kevin Parker’s ability to incorporate complex musical ideas into a pop format.

The song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is based primarily around the C minor 7 chord, giving the song its dark and moody atmosphere. The song is in the key of C minor. This chord progression is repetitive and simple, allowing other aspects of the song, such as the lyrics and production, to take center stage.

The Smashing Pumpkins – Landslide – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here’s a rundown of the chord progression for the given verse:

“`plaintext
G6 (I6), C (IV), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), Am (ii), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), C (IV), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), Am (ii), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), C (IV), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), Am (ii), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), C (IV), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), Am (ii), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), G6 (I6), Am (ii), G6 (I6], G6 (I6)
“`

In these sequences, the borrowed chord is `Am` from the parallel minor `G minor`, borrowing chords from a parallel key are a common technique used in many songs for its expressive potential.

Similar Chord Progressions

One of the classics that has a similar chord progression is “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. Compared to Landslide, it uses a D instead of the G6 and C, but it has a similar character. The chord progression goes as:

“`plaintext
D (IV), Cadd9 (II9), G (I)
“`

Another one worth mentioning is “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty. While it cycles over D, G, A (IV, I, II in G major), the feel is similar due to the usage of triadic chords. The chord progression is:

“`plaintext
D (IV), G (I), A (II)
“`

Musical Analysis

The usage of the 6th chord indicates influence from the folk and country styles in the choice of harmony. The progression mostly alternates between the I6 (G6) and IV (C), which are very common chord progressions in the rock genre. The occasional ii (Am) offers a ‘minor’ mood contrast to the otherwise ‘major’ sounding G and C chords.

Overall Analysis

“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a cover of a popular folk-rock song by Fleetwood Mac. In this song, The Smashing Pumpkins show their alternative rock style, while also paying homage to the folk-rock genre and especially to the founder of Folk-Rock “Fleetwood Mac”. The chords used throughout the song are predominantly composed in the key of G major, with the occasional use of a common borrowed chord (Am) from the G minor key.

Style Analysis

This progression is very soothing and smooth, consistent with the alternative rock and folk style of The Smashing Pumpkins. The alternation between G6 and C creates a consistent, catchy feel, and when the Am appears, it provides a touch of melancholy to balance out the progression.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Landslide by The Smashing Pumpkins are:

[‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘C’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’, ‘Am’, ‘G6’, ‘G6’]