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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins is in E minor key. The song is from the album Siamese Dream, which most perfectly represents the band’s sound leaning heavily on crunchy guitars and raw power chords. Your requested verse only includes the chord progression ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’ repeated 4 times.

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“1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a classic alternative rock song that cleverly uses uncommon, sophisticated chords to evoke an emotional, melancholic atmosphere.

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The song ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries is in the key of E minor. Its defining characteristics include plaintive repeated melodies, an intense grunge-inspired arrangement, and Dolores O’Riordan’s iconic vocal embellishments. The song employs a common rock/pop chord progression with added tension by using the D/F# chord.

“Hurt” is a song written and composed by Trent Reznor, best known for its version covered by Johnny Cash in C major. The song employs a commonly used pop/rock chord progression (vi- IV- I- V), that aids the conveyance of the theme of regret and redemption. The use of the minor vi chord (Am) as the starting point of the progression provides a very melancholy feel that aligns with the overall tone of regret in the lyrics. The progression then moves to a major IV (F), suggestive of a brief glimpse of hope or relief, before settling into the home key of C. The progression rounds off with a V chord (G), propelling the sequence back to the beginning again, giving a cyclic, repeating, and enduring feel to the music.

The chord progression in the chorus of Muse’s “New Born” is an interesting mix of diatonic, borrowed, and modal interchange chords, displaying a strong connection to rock music with its use of suspended chords and chromatic passing tones. The progression demonstrates the band’s compositional skill and creativity.

The Smashing Pumpkins – Today – Chorus 2

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘B’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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D Major (I)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
B Major (VI)

Here are the borrowed chords:

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B Major (VI) borrowed from D minor
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Similar Chord Progressions

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1. Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”:
A minor (I) – G Major (VII) – D Major (IV) – F Major (VI)
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F Major (VI) borrowed from A Major
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2. Radiohead – “Creep”:
G Major (I) – B Major (III) – C Major (IV) – C Major (IV)
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B Major (III) borrowed from G minor
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3. Oasis – “Wonderwall”:
F# minor (VI) – A Major (I) – E Major (V) – B Major (II)
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B Major (II) borrowed from A minor
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Musical Analysis

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The chord progression, D-A-G, is a classic I-V-IV progression in the key of D Major. It offers a cycle of fourths, moving from D to G, a perfect fourth, and back again through A. This is a very typical rock ‘n’ roll progression but Billy Corgan often uses distinctive voicings and colors to change up this classic progression. He does this by switching from a Major key to its relative minor, creating a darker, melancholic mood, which is complemented by the lyrics.

The borrowed B Major chord introduces a momentary modal shift. The B Major (VI) chord is not diatonic to the key of D Major – it’s borrowed from D minor. This brings a brief but effective surprise to the listener and an unexpected twist in the otherwise predictable progression.

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Overall Analysis

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Given by the chords you’ve provided, it appears the song “Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins is primarily in the key of D Major with occasional borrowed chords from D minor and E minor. The varying uses of D Major, D minor, and E minor really showcase the variety in Billy Corgan’s guitar writing.

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Style Analysis

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The Smashing Pumpkins often made use of alternative tunings, creating a unique and expansive wall of sound. This chord progression showcases their mix of heavy rock sensibilities with a keen pop sense for melodic hooks. Additionally, the band’s love for borrowing chords and switching major/minor tonality contributes to their distinctive style, adding depth and contrast to their music.

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Chords in the Chorus 2 section of Today by The Smashing Pumpkins are:

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘B’]