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 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 of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” outro is in E Minor, and it features a combination of diatonic chords and a borrowed chord from the parallel major key. The progression creates a sense of tension and resolution, giving the outro a captivating and memorable quality. The song itself is a psychedelic, funk-infused electro-pop track, which enhances the trippy, mesmerizing vibe of the progression.

The chord progression in the outro of Tyler, The Creator’s “See You Again” displays a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords within the key of F# major. This progression creates a smooth and somewhat jazzy feel in the music, with the inclusion of a few unexpected chords that add tension and propel the music forward.

The outro chord progression of “Are We Still Friends” by Tyler, The Creator has an interesting and somewhat unconventional structure. It’s composed of four chords and follows a pattern that showcases chromatic motion, a key element often found in the music of Tyler, The Creator. The vamp is harmonically ambiguous, relying on the dynamic interplay between the chords to create tension and resolution.

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’]