“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones is a popular song from the mid-60s that features a mix of major and minor chords along with modulations between closely related keys. The overall harmonic structure shares similarities with other rock and pop songs of that era, including The Beatles and Bob Dylan.
Base Key and
The Rolling Stones’ “As Tears Go By” is primarily in the key of G major and follows a Verse-Verse-Verse-Outro structure. The harmony is relatively simple, incorporating primarily diatonic chords from the G major scale as well as a few borrowed chords and inversions.
Chord Progression Analysis (Outro):
G Major (I) – A Major (V/vi, borrowed from E minor) – C Major (IV) – D Major (V) – G Major (I)
“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones is based in the key of C major. The verse has a simple and catchy chord progression that primarily revolves around the I and IV chords in the key, with brief excursions to the dominant and a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key. This structure contributes to the song’s bluesy and rock’n’roll sound.
The progression from B to A to E is a common progression in pop and rock music. This progression utilizes diatonic and non-diatonic chords, meaning that the chords all belong to the same key and it suggests the use of borrowed chords. A Perfect Circle tends to use a lot of downward motion in their chord progressions, moving from higher to lower pitches, which can give their music a distinct ‘heavy’ feel.
The progression is in the key of C major. The use of the Bb major is known as modal interchange, where a chord that is not in the key is borrowed from a parallel key, which in this case is C minor. This contributes an interesting tone color to the overall sound. The chord progression does consist a use of slash chords (C/B, C/G) which adds a more complex bassline creating a more harmonically active feeling, and yielding more tension and release.
“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones is a popular song from the mid-60s that features a mix of major and minor chords along with modulations between closely related keys. The overall harmonic structure shares similarities with other rock and pop songs of that era, including The Beatles and Bob Dylan.
Base Key and
“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.
The song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is based primarily around the C minor 7 chord, giving the song its dark and moody atmosphere. The song is in the key of C minor. This chord progression is repetitive and simple, allowing other aspects of the song, such as the lyrics and production, to take center stage.
“Right Where It Belongs” by Nine Inch Nails features a melancholic and somewhat unconventional chord progression that moves between different tonal centers. The base key can be identified as F major from the frequency of F major chords in the progression.
The chord progression in Verse 2 of “Get You” by Daniel Caesar features some interesting and often non-diatonic chords. It provides a smooth and lush sound that complements the rest of the song. This progression shows influences from R&B and neo-soul genres, which often use extended and borrowed chords.
The chord progression in the verse of “Time To Pretend” by MGMT is primarily built around the key of D major. It features a simple and repetitive structure, with some variations. The chords used are mainly triads and simple extensions, with the occasional use of suspended chords (Dsus2) to create tension and release. The progression showcases the band’s ability to create an engaging and immersive soundscape, while keeping the harmony relatively simple.
“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 chord progression in verse 2 of “Telepatia” by Kali Uchis is a jazz-influenced progression in the key of E minor. It features several extended chords, such as the Em9 and Gmaj7 used throughout, and a dominant chord, B7, which provides tension and resolution in the progression. The G/A chord, which is essentially an A11 chord without the 3rd, also gives the progression a sense of blending major and minor tonalities.
“My Name Is Jonas” by Weezer is a 90s alternative rock song featuring a catchy chord progression and memorable melodies. The verse 2 chord progression consists of a repeated set of chords: C, G, Am, F. This progression is common in popular music and creates a sense of familiarity for the listener. The key is C Major.
“California Kids” by Weezer is a pop rock song with influences from alternative and power pop. The chord progression in Verse 2 shows a blend of diatonic and borrowed chords, which contributes to a slight sense of tension and resolution throughout the progression. The chords in the verse also exhibit movement by step (C to C/B) and a mixture of major and minor tonalities.
“Electric Feel” by MGMT is characterized by its repetitive, catchy chord progression and usage of both major and minor chords which create a unique, surreal atmosphere. The song includes elements of psychedelic pop, funk, and electronic music.
The chord progression in MGMT’s “Congratulations” contains a mix of diatonic and non-diatonic chords, which provide a combination of stability and tension throughout the progression. The harmonic rhythm is slow, and the progression is mostly driven by bass line movement and voice leading. The mixture of borrowed chords, inversions, and suspended chords contributes to the overall unique character of the piece.
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