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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.

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.

“All My Loving” by the Beatles is a great example of their early ’60s pop style. This song’s verse chord progression is in the key of D Major with a mix of minor chords and 7th chords that add to the emotional intensity of the song. The composition blends pop simplicity with complex harmony, encapsulating the Beatles’ innovative songwriting.

The chord progression in the verse of “Apocalypse Please” by Muse is mostly based on the F#m and C# chords, with a strong emphasis on the i and V7 relationship. The progression moves back and forth between these two chords without straying far from the Tonality of F# minor while maintaining a tension and release structure.

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The overall use of chords highlights Queen’s blending of rock with more complex harmonic structures, moving beyond simple major & minor chords and incorporating 7th and inversions. Despite its pop/rock surface, “Somebody to Love” includes interesting modulation and chord choices that could be seen as more typical of more ‘classical’ forms of music.

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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’]