Musicians: Have you ever believed a certain progression of chords could open a portal to something evil?

[JGalt]

First of all, I will say that I'm not a believer in conspiracy theories, hoodoo/voodoo, or things I can't see, feel, or touch with my own hands.. But there was a time in my life after several decades of being a guitar player, I came to a point where I started feeling as if some of the progressions of chords and riffs I was repeatedly playing were becoming repetitive chants, incantations, and mantras that were opening a spiritual portal to something that I wasn't sure was benign.

The pagan "religion" will bear me out on this: Many ancient pagan "religions" (and even some modern New Age practices) use repeated phrases to summon deities, speak with the dead, or cast spells. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” This is not just about prayer etiquette. It’s also a warning against ritualistic chanting like the pagans did.

Since then, I have long since given up on playing music for more than several reasons. But I did have a startling experience on September 10, 2025, when Charlie Kirk was shot. Two weeks prior to that horrible event, I had been playing one single track of a CD I found. The song was titled "Shoot High Aim Low" by the band Yes, and was on their 1987 album Big Generator. For some reason, I had that song on an infinite repeat on my car stereo player, because I had become addicted to it.

Surely this is a coincidence, but I don't play that song much any more.

 

[Dante]

Alcoa Presents One Step Beyond - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Hey you, don't watch that
Watch this!
This is the heavy heavy monster sound
The nuttiest sound around
So if you've come in off the street
And you're beginning to feel the heat
Well listen buster
You better start to move your feet
To the rockinest, rock-steady beat
Of madness
One step beyond!

One Step Beyond (1959)

One Step Beyond, also known as Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, was an anthology show created by Merwin Gerard that aired on ABC. It predated its better-known competitor The Twilight Zone (1959) by nine months (it premiered on January 20, 1959; …

tvtropes.org

"The amazing drama you’re about to see is a matter of human record. You may believe it, or not, but the real people who lived this story — they believe it. They know. They took that... one step beyond."
— John Newland's Opening Narration

 

[Dante]

One Step Beyond, also known as Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, was an anthology show created by Merwin Gerard that aired on ABC. It predated its better-known competitor The Twilight Zone (1959) by nine months (it premiered on January 20, 1959; Twilight Zone debuted in October). It was hosted by John Newland, who referred to himself on camera as "your guide to the supernatural" (he was also the series' director).

Like The Twilight Zone, the series presented stories that were supernatural and eerie in nature. Unlike The Twilight Zone, the show claimed to be a Docudrama; every spooky episode was (supposedly) inspired by true events and was presented as a reenactment. Topics included death premonitions, Astral Projection, ghosts, Psychic Powers, unexplained phenomena and strange coincidences.

Many soon-to-be famous actors guest starred on the show, including Warren Beatty, Charles Bronson, Kenneth Cope, Cloris Leachman, Christopher Lee, Jack Lord, Patrick Macnee, Yvette Mimieux, Elizabeth Montgomery, Edward Platt, Donald Pleasence, Pernell Roberts, William Shatner, David White, and Peter Wyngarde.

 

[Dogmaphobe]

Now that you mention it, Steve Howe IS starting to look a lot like Rick Raff from Rocky Horror Picture Show.

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

What are these cords?

 

[Muhammed]

What are these cords?

D, E and G. Mixolydian mode with microtonal inflections.

 

[BackAgain]

What are these cords?

Of course, I have no practical grasp on music in general or on chords, specifically.

So, I really don’t know.

I will say, you have interesting musical taste, including, minimally, a wide-range in various musical arts.

Except for this very thread and your post and link, I am pretty sure I would never stumble upon that video.

I don’t think my musical taste is even all that well-rounded. I’m guessing that yours is.

 

[sparky]

~S~

 

[The Duke]

What are these cords?

Some kind of atonal modulating chromatic ick.

 

[SweetSue92]

First of all, I will say that I'm not a believer in conspiracy theories, hoodoo/voodoo, or things I can't see, feel, or touch with my own hands.. But there was a time in my life after several decades of being a guitar player, I came to a point where I started feeling as if some of the progressions of chords and riffs I was repeatedly playing were becoming repetitive chants, incantations, and mantras that were opening a spiritual portal to something that I wasn't sure was benign.

The pagan "religion" will bear me out on this: Many ancient pagan "religions" (and even some modern New Age practices) use repeated phrases to summon deities, speak with the dead, or cast spells. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” This is not just about prayer etiquette. It’s also a warning against ritualistic chanting like the pagans did.

Since then, I have long since given up on playing music for more than several reasons. But I did have a startling experience on September 10, 2025, when Charlie Kirk was shot. Two weeks prior to that horrible event, I had been playing one single track of a CD I found. The song was titled "Shoot High Aim Low" by the band Yes, and was on their 1987 album Big Generator. For some reason, I had that song on an infinite repeat on my car stereo player, because I had become addicted to it.

Surely this is a coincidence, but I don't play that song much any more.

Well. This brought back the "devil's interval" in classical music--the tritone. An augmented 4th.

On topic: I don't think a certain chord progression is inherently evil, but how it's used/paired CAN be. If it repeats along with sketchy lyrics, yes, very much like an incantation that can probably open up dark paths. But the sounds alone, probably not

 

[1srelluc]

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

Of course, I have no practical grasp on music in general or on chords, specifically.

So, I really don’t know.

I will say, you have interesting musical taste, including, minimally, a wide-range in various musical arts.

Except for this very thread and your post and link, I am pretty sure I would never stumble upon that video.

I don’t think my musical taste is even all that well-rounded. I’m guessing that yours is.

I think that band's music so awful that it is funny.
But, that band an internet hit for some reason

 

[sparky]

I think that band's music so awful that it is funny.
But, that band an internet hit for some reason

maybe evil sells Trog.......?? ~S~

 

[toobfreak]

Have you ever believed a certain progression of chords could open a portal to something evil?​

Very possible considering that each level of heaven and hell is connected to a spinal chakra, and each chakra is associated with a musical note or tone. That is why certain songs send some people off into a far off land because the music resonates with the chakra they are most sympathetic with.

Two weeks prior to that horrible event, I had been playing one single track of a CD I found. The song was titled "Shoot High Aim Low" by the band Yes, and was on their 1987 album Big Generator.

That explains why I was unfamiliar with it--- I am a big fan of Yes but I stopped following the band after 'Going For The One.'

 

[sparky]

spinal chakra

This is why we just can't take you anywhere Mr Toob........ ~S~

 

[JGalt]

Very possible considering that each level of heaven and hell is connected to a spinal chakra, and each chakra is associated with a musical note or tone. That is why certain songs send some people off into a far off land because the music resonates with the chakra they are most sympathetic with.


That explains why I was unfamiliar with it--- I am a big fan of Yes but I stopped following the band after 'Going For The One.'

I was a fan of their earlier stuff back in the late 70's but don't care much for it these days. But I do love the stuff they did in the late 80's, especially the album "Big Generator." Their music wasn't as "out there" as it was in 70's. It had a funkier beat and was directed at a far wider audience.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Isn't that how we got Nickelback?

 

[The Duke]

D, E and G. Mixolydian mode with microtonal inflections.

So like A, B, and D with a mixolydian scale?
A I IV V that is not. The D goes back to the A, but what's up with the just 1 tone thing?!
IMO, that B does not fit.
PS: Wat is a microtonal inflection?
Or is it just a 1 2 5 with flat 7th thing?

 

[SaxonJackson]

Chords can tell a story of their own.

 

[The Duke]

Chords can tell a story of their own.

Yep.