Music Theory Alchemy

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“Perfect” by The Smashing Pumpkins is written in the key of D major. The song takes a relatively standard and common approach in chord progression, particularly with the cyclical variations that have the onset within a classic pop/rock realm. The tonality and mid-tempo pacing give the song a melancholic and nostalgic tone.

“Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a rock song that alternates between heavy distortion and calm sections. Interestingly, the song is mostly in E minor, but uses a lot of power chords (5th chords) and sus2 chords which give the song a distinctively undecided, floating feeling, as these chords don’t have a clear major or minor character. The song uses a rather straightforward progression with a few deviations and embellishments which provide tension and release.

The chord progression “[‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘D’]” from the outro of Weezer’s “The Good Life” is a simple, yet effective progression in the key of E minor. It demonstrates a melancholic feel common to alternative rock and power-pop music genres of the 1990s. The chords in this progression are borrowed from the E natural minor scale.

The chord progression in the outro of Weezer’s “Undone – The Sweater Song” follows a repeating pattern with a combination of major and power chords. The overall key of the progression is G major, and the chords follow a predictable pattern that is rooted in rock and alternative music styles. The chord progression uses borrowed chords from the parallel key of G minor, specifically the B♭ major chord.

“Island in the Sun” by Weezer is in the key of G major and features a simple yet catchy chord progression in its outro. The progression is characterized by its bright, uplifting sound and follows a common pop/rock formula. It also has a nostalgic, summery feel, making it a perfect fit for the song’s title and theme.

The Smashing Pumpkins – Perfect – Outro

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’]

Chord Progression Analysis

– D Major (‘I’)
– B minor (‘vi’)
– D Major (‘I’)
– B minor (‘vi’)
– D Major (‘I’)
– B minor (‘vi’)
– A Major (‘V’)

“`In terms of borrowed chords, none are observed in the given progression.“`

Similar Chord Progressions

This is a very common progression in popular music (I, vi, IV, V). Some examples include:

-“Don’t Stop Believing’” by Journey: [‘E’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘G#m’, ‘A’]
-“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen: [‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’]
-“Let it Be” by The Beatles: [‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’]

As mentioned before, these all fall within the framework of popular music chord progressions, the I-vi progression being one of the most common due to its highly satisfying, cadential resolution. These songs, while diverse in style and theme, bear similarities to “Perfect” in their basic, underlying harmonic structures.

Musical Analysis

This progression in D Major sticks primarily to the diatonic chords within the key. It alternates between the tonic (I) and the relative minor (vi), establishing a pattern and musical structure that keeps repeating, providing a comforting and familiar grounding in this signature. The ending on A Major, the dominant (V), provides a nice resolution and cadence to the overall progression, giving it a sense of finality and direction.

Overall Analysis

Patterns in music are fundamental for creating musical identity. This repetition ensures the music is coherent and familiar for the listener. In the case of “Perfect” by Smashing Pumpkins, the song makes use of a common popular music chord progression known as the I – vi progression.

Style Analysis

The Smashing Pumpkins frequently blend simple chord progressions with complex melodies, harmonies, and instrumentations, a feature commonly adopted in alternative rock genre. They often inject unique twists into their songs for added interest. Billy Corgan, the band’s lead, is known for his dense, layering approaches and existential lyrics within the genre’s boundary.

Chords in the Outro section of Perfect by The Smashing Pumpkins are:

[‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘A’]