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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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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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“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.

“Love of My Life” is a stunning ballad written by Freddie Mercury of Queen. The song is written in the key of A major and is primarily played on piano. It features a sophisticated and somewhat unconventional chord progression that serves as the foundation for Mercury’s versatile vocal performance. It’s arguably one of Queen’s more classical-influenced pieces and makes use of borrowed chord techniques frequently, which are commonly associated with the band’s flirtation with different musical styles, including rock, classical, and opera.

“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones is a rock song in the key of C major. The chord progression is simple and effective, reflecting the band’s blues and rock ‘n’ roll influences. The overall structure includes three verses with the same chord progression.

“When You Die” by MGMT features a fairly unconventional chord progression that mixes elements of rock, pop, and classic psychedelia. The progression creates tension and intrigue through the use of extended harmonies, chromaticism, and borrowed chords. The distinctiveness of this progression contributes to the song’s unique sound.

The Smashing Pumpkins – Today – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’]

Chord Progression Analysis

This chord progression ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’ in the key of E minor outlines the chords i, III, V, respectively.

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E minor (‘i’)
G major (‘III’)
B major (‘V’)
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Similar Chord Progressions

The ‘i – III – V’ progression is quite common in alternative rock, though it’s used in many genres. Some examples include:

1. Nirvana’s “Territorial Pissings” – The verses use a similar progression:
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A (IV), C (VI), E (I).
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2. The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – The verse part has a similar progression:
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Am (I), C#m (III), E (V).
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An important note is that with these examples, the exact voicings, rhythm, and arrangement will play significant roles in the overall sound, meaning that while they share a similar harmonic structure to “Today,” they won’t sound identical due to these other music parameters.

Musical Analysis

This chord progression is a case of modal interchange (borrowed chords). The B major chord is borrowed from the E major key, while the entire song is in the E minor key. The unexpected B major chord adds a sense of tension and release, and this technique is common to Smashing Pumpkins songs and other alternative rock genres.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

“Today” is a song in the style of alternative rock and grunge. It is characterized by its loud “wall of sound” style, with distorted guitars and powerful chords throughout. This song structure using borrowed chords and unexpected chords gives their music a distinctive character, rich in tension and release intricacies within the melody line.

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

[‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’]