3 ms·
The progression is I / III / IV / iv. "Get Free"'s verses (not chorus) is in this progression in B. "Creep" is in G. Not the most common progression, but a Goo
by soundwave106 9y ago
The progression is I / III / IV / iv. "Get Free"'s verses (not chorus) is in this progression in B. "Creep" is in G.
Not the most common progression, but a Google on it led to Reddit where a few other examples came up -- part of the chorus of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" ("this is ground control to Major Tom") or ELO's "Tightrope".
One problem with "Creep" is that it is a simple four chord loop, unlike the above songs. Nothing wrong with a four bar chord loop, but four chord loops alone really aren't unique enough to be copyrightable (MHO). Four chord loops are a staple of basic rock and roll (garage rock and punk etc.). Because the scope of triad movement is limited in these styles, the chords you are playing (and even to some degree the melodies that come from this) have probably been done before a long time ago. Think for instance what would happen if the "12 bar blues" progression or the "doo wop progression" (I-vi-IV-V) which dominates 1950s music was placed under lock and key.
Inevitably bands in four chord loop mode step on each other and produce similar sounding songs. When I played in a cover band, we played with this sort of thing to deliver "two songs at once" moments. For example, Puddle of Mudd's "She Hates Me" has the exact same chords (and pacing!) as Suicidal Tendencies' "I Saw Your Mommy" -- both are Emaj Amaj F#maj Bmaj. The chorus of the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" and the Troggs' "Wild Thing" (I-IV-V-IV in Amaj, somewhat similar rhythm) are also similar enough where you can swap between the two mid song. In modern times, enough modern country songs used the exact same chord loops and pacing (roughly IV-I-V in Bmaj) for someone to make a mashup of six of them playing simultaneously. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY8SwIvxj8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY8SwIvxj8o) It would have been fun to cover this mashup. :)
Radiohead has a stronger case on the melody, but there's a point where I wonder where the threshold of uniqueness should lie. Due to the relative complexity, it would be IMHO pretty difficult for someone to accidentally come up with "Space Oddity" or "Tightrope" chorus. On the other hand, I personally can easily see accidentally coming up with the Creep melody with these chords (this seems like a very similar situation to the Tom Petty "I Won't Back Down" / Sam Smith "Stay With Me" situation). IMHO, if something is easy to accidentally create, it shouldn't be unique enough for copyright protection.