Hi all! I've been trying to teach myself music theory lately...well, actually I've been trying to teach myself theory for several years off an on, but I've had interest lately.
Rush is my favorite bands, and one of my favorite songs is "Mission" off of the "Hold Your Fire" album (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVXMTNKIEak)
Anyway, as an exercise, I figured I'd see if I could figure out the theory to it. There's a few things I'm missing, I think, so maybe someone can help?
The intro seems to be in the key of D, and the two chords are I (D) and V (A), then G (IV) and A (V).
Then the main verse..the key changes, right? To E? The chords for the verse are V (B), I (E), iii (G#m) and ii (F#m).
The chorus goes back to D with the same chords used in the intro. Then the verse and chorus again...then first guitar solo (verse).
Then the break is ANOTHER key change to Bbm (?) where the vamp is Bb5 - Db5 - Eb5 (I - iii -IV).
Then a riff in A (OMG another KEY CHANGE!) and then another modulation of the vamp up to B (B5-D5-E5).
Finally, for the bridge we go back to the intro chords, for the rest of the song everything returns to normal (thank God!).
So my questions...
1) Am I right in saying that the key changes a buhjillion times?
2) How would one come to this? Are there any rules you can see that I can't as to why these choices where made or where they just..."hey this sounds good, let's do this." I mean Considering modulation, the intro modulates up one key, and then down a whole + a half Bbm (aka Db). Down a 1/2 step again to A, then up a whole to B. Who would think of doing this? Maybe that's why they are such geniuses? I'm completely lost!
Anyone have any insight into any of this?
Thanks!
