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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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.

“Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins is composed in the key of E minor. The song has quite a simple structure and harmony with a strong emphasis on the I-IV-V (D-G-A in E minor key) chord progression which is one of the most common patterns in popular music. This I-IV-V progression vests the song with its harmonic backbone and creates a strong, wide-open sonic canvas.

The song “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails has a tonal center around the key of B minor, as it is the most prominently featured chord in both the verse and chorus sections. The verse features a simple three-chord progression (Bm-D-E), and the chorus introduces additional chords (G, A). The outro mainly repeats the chords from the verse. The style of the piece can be characterized as haunting, melancholic, and somewhat minimalistic with only a few chords creating the harmonic landscape.

Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ contains a rich mixture of chord progressions, which is typical of the band’s complex songwriting. The outro of the song makes use of the F, F7, Bb, and Gm7 chords. This progression is in the key of F Major, with F being the tonic (I), F7 being the dominant 7th (V7), Bb being the subdominant (IV) and Gm7 being the submediant 7th (vi7). The Bb chord is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (F Minor) and the usage of F7 serves to add a level of tension before resolving to the Bb.

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.

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’]