Songs that follow the "epic" chord progression

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Poll: Favourite song of the included examples?
All Around the World - Oasis
0%
 0%  [0]
Atlantis - Donovan
42%
 42%  [3]
Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out) - John Lennon
14%
 14%  [1]
Sad Song - Lou Reed
0%
 0%  [0]
Isn't It a Pity - George Harrison
42%
 42%  [3]
Total Votes : 7

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Mother Nature's Son



Gender: Male
Age: 31
Denmark

  • #1
  • Posted: 10/27/2013 18:45
  • Post subject: Songs that follow the "epic" chord progression
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I rarely recognize chords in music, obviously they're there, but even with pop songs that use nothing but clichéd chord progressions, I never think about the chords lying under the melody. However, there's one chord progression that has stood out in quite a few songs for me. The chord progression I'm talking about is the one that follows I-II(major)-IV, an example provided could be G-A-C. Here are a couple of songs that are pretty much built around this chord progression and easy to recognize:


Link


Link


Link


Link


Would've brought George Harrison's "Isn't It a Pity" too, but couldn't find the proper 7 minutes album version on YT.

I find there's an interesting similarity between the songs. They all, especially the first one, seem to be triumphant, grandiose and what I like to refer to as "epic". Essentially, I feel it's a very uplifting chord progression even when the song in reality is sad ("Sad Song" is obviously a sad song).

What thoughts do you have on this chord progression and the songs that follow it? Since I generally seem to be digging these songs a lot and because I feel these songs stick out from other songs, I'd like to hear what other great songs you can recommend that are composed around the same chord progression (I've probably forgot a couple of songs myself, but well, I can't remember everything).
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yourself





  • #2
  • Posted: 10/27/2013 21:32
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Hmmm can't think of any exact instances off the top of my head...probably a few Eels songs would fit, maybe the odd Tv on the Radio as well...

16 horsepower songs often have minor progressions built around the same intervals (like i-ii-iv or by your example gminor- a minor- cminor or something like that)


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Mother Nature's Son



Gender: Male
Age: 31
Denmark

  • #3
  • Posted: 10/28/2013 21:22
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Thanks for your reply, yourself. I appreciate that.

I guess this thread was a little too narrow. What I was looking for was a very distinct use of this chord progression, as in a circular progression like "All Around the World" and "Isn't It a Pity", not where the chords "jump around" in the various intervals (if that makes any sense). Another very important thing was that the chords had to be major chords as they seem to be the ones supporting this uplifting feel.

Thanks for the clip anyway. It wasn't really what I was looking for, but a rather cool song anyway.
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setalpgninnpseki




United States

  • #4
  • Posted: 10/30/2013 16:55
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I wish more people would listen to Donovan. Great stuff.
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