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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins draws from the band’s unique style of alternative rock influenced by a distinct palette of harmonic choices. Particularly in the songwriting of Billy Corgan (the band’s primary songwriter), the band tends to use a mix of common and uncommon chords, together with a tendency of exploring different tonalities. Often, the chord changes are driven by guitar inversions, suspensions, or additions.

The song ‘Today’ by The Smashing Pumpkins is a classic example of mixing major and minor modes in rock music. The majority of the song is modal, centered around D major and B minor. However, the bridge section changes gears and revolves around E minor.

“Roads” by Portishead is set in the key of Am, also known as A minor. In the verse, there is an interesting use of the flat major 7 (Fmaj7) chord. This chord is not typically found within the natural minor key but is considered a borrowed chord from the A major key. Thus, this use of said borrowed chord and its resolution to the E7 dominants gives the song a unique feel, contributing to its mesmerizing and emotive ambience. Portishead tends to blend the use of A minor and A Dorian modality in their music, especially apparent in this composition.

“Somewhere Only We Know” composed by Keane, is a pop-ballad that is based in the key of A Minor. It makes use of both diatonic and borrowed chords in a modern pop style progression that creates an oscillating feel, with repetition for familiarity and simple melody drawn from the underlying chords.

“Buddy Holly” is a song by Weezer with an upbeat, pop-rock feel. It exists in the key of A major and showcases a recurring chord progression in its verse consisting of F#m, E/G#, and A.

The Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight Tonight – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘G/B’, ‘D’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘G/B’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The key of the song seems to oscillate between C major and G major, which provides a fresh and somewhat unpredictable sound to the ears. The chords of Verse 1 proceed as follows:

“`
A minor (vi)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
D Major/F# (V/vi)
E minor (iii)
A minor (vi)
C Major (I)
C add9 (Isus2)
G Major/B (V6)
D Major (V/V)
C add9 (Isus2)
G Major/B (V6)
D Major (V/V)
“`
The use of slash chords like ‘D/F#’ and ‘G/B’ add further color and complexity to the harmonic vision of the song. The D Major (which would not typically fit in a C Major key) and its inversions (D/F#) can be considered borrowed from the parallel minor.

Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in U2’s “With or Without You” which has a constant IV-I-V-vi progression. This creates a similar sense of anticipation and grandeur as “Tonight, Tonight.” Another example includes “Let it Be” by The Beatles, which follows the progression I-V-vi-IV, similar in ways but a reflection of “Tonight, Tonight”‘s development and diversity.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression creates a sense of anticipation and suspense, always pushing the listener forward. The Em-Am-C progression is a typical i-VI-III progression often found in pop and rock music. In contrast, the D Major chord creates a feeling of departure, or a slight tension due to its role as a secondary dominant. Finally, the progression often resolves back to a G Major chord, giving a certain satisfaction to the listener.

Overall Analysis

“Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a rock song happy to embrace classical music tropes. An orchestral, string-heavy arrangement propels the song, surrounding the listener with a rich tapestry of sound. The grandiose sound of the full orchestra is bolstered by the band’s dual guitars and Billy Corgan’s characteristic singing.

Style Analysis

The style of the song blend grunge rock, pop, and symphonic elements. The frequent use of add9 chords bring a degree of sophistication and elevation that is frequently associated with orchestral music. Additionally, the passing tones and borrowed chords add to the complexity of the song, ensuring that the song remains interesting throughout its entirety.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Tonight Tonight by The Smashing Pumpkins are:

[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘G/B’, ‘D’, ‘Cadd9’, ‘G/B’, ‘D’]