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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins employs a variety of chords throughout the song, including major, major 7th, and minor 7th chords. The chord progression varies between sections but is based mostly on a mid-tempo groove in the key of E Major. The song utilizes common pop/rock conventions to create a dreamy and nostalgic soundscape, with the juxtaposition of the major and minor 7th chords adding complexity.

“1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins is written in the A major key and showcases various examples of modal interchange, also known as borrowed chords. The song switches often between the major and minor modes, providing a dynamic interplay of moods. The outro particularly stands out due to its use of both major and maj7th chords, a somewhat unusual combination. Emaj7 adds color and complexity to the progression, as a borrowed chord from the E major scale.

“In My Head” by Queens of the Stone Age shows a variety of complex chord progressions that are often seen in alternative rock and other sub-genres of rock music. The chord progressions seem to use a combination of modal and chromatic harmony which gives it an edgy and intriguing sound quality.

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.

“Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a rock song that alternates between heavy distortion and calm sections. Interestingly, the song is mostly in E minor, but uses a lot of power chords (5th chords) and sus2 chords which give the song a distinctively undecided, floating feeling, as these chords don’t have a clear major or minor character. The song uses a rather straightforward progression with a few deviations and embellishments which provide tension and release.

The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 – Bridge

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Chord Progression

[‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘F#m7’, ‘B’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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The song is in the Key of E Major. The chord progression in the Bridge is constructed as:

“`C# Minor (vi) – A Major (IV) – B Major (V) – C# Minor (vi) – A Major (IV) – B Major (V) – C# Minor (vi) – A Major (IV) – F# Minor7 (ii7) – B Major (V) – E Major 7 (IMaj7) – E Major (I)“`

In code block:

“`
“C# Minor (‘vi’) – A Major (‘IV’) – B Major (‘V’) – C# Minor (‘vi’) – A Major (‘IV’) – B Major (‘V’) – C# Minor (‘vi’) – A Major (‘IV’) – F# Minor7 (‘ii7’) – B Major (‘V’) – E Major 7 (‘IMaj7’) – E Major (‘I’)”
“`

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Similar Chord Progressions

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Similar to the vi-IV-V-I progression used in ‘1979’, Green Day has used similar progression in their hit song ’21 Guns’:

“`D minor (vi) – Bb Major (IV) – F Major (I) – C Major (V)“`

Coldplay’s ‘The Scientist’ also shares a familiar chord progression:

“`D minor (vi) – Bb Major (IV) – F Major (I) – C Major (V)“`

Avril Lavigne’s ‘Complicated’ also involves a similar progression:

“`F Major (I) – C Major (V) – Bb Major (IV) – D minor (vi)“`

In code block:

“`
“D minor (‘vi’) – Bb Major (‘IV’) – F Major (‘I’) – C Major (‘V’)”
“D minor (‘vi’) – Bb Major (‘IV’) – F Major (‘I’) – C Major (‘V’)”
“F Major (‘I’) – C Major (‘V’) – Bb Major (‘IV’) – D minor (‘vi’)”
“`

Musical Analysis

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This chord progression revolves around the vi-IV-V, which is a popular progression in pop music as it creates a strong sense of resolution when it finally lands on the ‘I’ chord. It begins and ends on the ‘E’ while it deviates slightly in the middle by incorporating an F# minor 7 chord, which works as a borrowed chord and provides a unique flavor to the progression.

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Overall Analysis

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“The Smashing Pumpkins” in the song ‘1979’ has used a somewhat unconventional yet memorable chord progression, particularly in the bridge section. This progression creates a certain mood and melodic texture befitting the song’s laid-back yet emotionally resonant feel.

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Style Analysis

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The Smashing Pumpkins are known for their diverse approach to songwriting, often incorporating various music styles ranging from pop, punk, gothic rock, and heavy metal. Their chord progressions often have a sense of resolution but with unexpected twists which make their music unpredictable yet melodically strong. ‘1979’ is an excellent example of this stylization as it combines the use of common and borrowed chords to create a distinctive sound.

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Chords in the Bridge section of 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins are:

[‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘F#m7’, ‘B’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘E’]