"i-III-VII-IV": "Four Chords of 'Alternative'?"

A certain chord progression has come to my attention as something that's supposed to sound indie-ish. You'll probably remember it from this mashup of Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Wonderwall: [1]

Now listen to this from Benny from The Axis of Awesome:

It's seems to be quite popular among the so-called "alternative" scene, which seems to make it a sort of Foil to The Four Chords of Pop.

edited 16th May '14 10:08:01 AM by WaxingName

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Niiiiiiiiiice.

You know, I wrote a song where I intentionally only used the notes of one or two distinct chords in different inversions and, now that I think of it, it's not that far from the basic "four chords of pop." But most of the chords were extended to begin with, and then I changed the tuning system... and now it's something else entirely. So there you go.

But to the actual topic, I've always found that particular brand of turn-of-the-millennium faux-alternative terribly tedious, and I think that this is part of the reason why.

I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.

I don't mind that kind of music, but it is kinda afflicted by the problem that afflicts a lot of genres- namely, overuse of the same chord progressions- many genres seem to have a limited set of chord progressions that come up way more than is necessarily... well, NECESSARY.

The most pertinent thing I noticed during that video is that Benny should sing a full cover of What Goes Around.

"Monsters are tragic beings. They are born too tall, too strong, too heavy. They are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy."

Relevant:

Good guess, but no. No chord progression outside from the 4 chords of pop is as overused, abused, and infamous. There are certain ones that are widely used, but... none comes close.

Having said that, have a song with a chord progression that is NOT common, and unnoticeable at times (bass line ≠ chord):

''Man of Straw''

edited 27th May '14 6:25:21 PM by KlarkKentThe3rd

I really should get some decent recording equipment and cut some of my songs. I currently have them rendered in a score writer/virtual singer program, but they sound a bit mechanical in it. Believe me, you'll hear way, way, way more than four chords in my songs.

I expect no less than 17 chords in each song!

A couple of my songs only have 10 or 11, but those are only 2 minutes so hopefully it's excusable.

I want to call my first album Thirty-Three Chords and the Truth.

I'd love to see an album with that name.

What about blues progression or '50s progression?

Insert witty 'n clever quip here.

Anyone who watched anime has likely heard the "Humoresque" Progression more times than they can count.

Satellite by Rise Against uses i-III-VII-IV in the chorus.

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New Divide from Linkin Park has the same verse chords as "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"

Is i-III-VII-IV somehow related to The Four Chords of Pop?

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