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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is a song written by Elton John that features a complex chord progression that effectively complements the haunting and nostalgic quality of the song’s lyrics. The primary key of the song is D major, while parts of the progression borrow from both the parallel minor (D minor) and the relative minor (B minor). The use of these borrowed chords adds harmonic interest and enhances the song’s evocative, wistful mood.

“Tiny Dancer” is an iconic song by Elton John from his 1971 album Madman Across the Water. Written in the key of C Major, it genre-wise fits the mold of pop music from the early 1970s. Structurally, the song displays unique nuances, especially in its pre-chorus, which shifts the tonal center and incorporates some borrowed chords from parallel minor scales.

“Get You” by Daniel Caesar is a soulful R&B ballad featuring a smooth and emotive chord progression that is both melancholic and uplifting. The progression is derived from the key of D major, but features a borrowed chord from its parallel minor key, D minor, which adds a unique flair to the song. Daniel Caesar’s vocal performance, accompanied by soulful instrumentation, creates a sense of nostalgia and emotional evocation that is characteristic of the R&B genre.

“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” is a pop song by Elton John from the album “Caribou,” released in 1974. The song is set in the key of C Major, with some interesting chord changes and borrowed chords that are rich and reflective of Elton John’s unique harmonic style. The chorus especially impresses with unexpected chord shifts, demonstrating a sophisticated songwriting technique.

“The song When Doves Cry” by Prince features a very distinctive chord progression in its chorus section. Technically the song is written in a minor key, but the progression tends to flow in a way that feels almost like a major key at times. This is a common characteristic of many Prince songs, signifying the unique and innovative style of the artist.

Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘F#7’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘B7’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’, ‘F#’, ‘G’, ‘Bb’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’, ‘Bm7’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘A’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here we will provide a musical analysis of the chord progression in the chorus:

“`
D Major (I)
F# Dominant Seventh (III7)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
B Dominant Seventh (VI7)
E Minor (ii)
A Major (V)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
B Minor (vi)
F# Major (III)
G Major (IV)
B flat Major (‘borrowed chord’ bVI)
C Major (‘borrowed chord’ bVII)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
B Minor (vi)
B Minor Seventh (vi7)
G Major (IV)
A Major (V)
G Minor (‘borrowed chord’ iv)
C Major (‘borrowed chord’ bVII)
F Major (‘borrowed chord’ bIII)
B flat Major (‘borrowed chord’ bVI)
G Minor (‘borrowed chord’ iv)
A Major (V)
D Major (I)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

Many songs share similar chord progressions to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” for example, “Let It Be” by The Beatles. The chord progression in its chorus is as follows:

“`
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
“`

While simpler than John’s song, “Let It Be” similarly employs diatonic and borrowed chords to create tension and resolution in its progression, evoke emotion, and drive the song’s narrative arc.

Musical Analysis

The use of dominant seventh and borrowed chords creates tension and resolution within the progression and drives the emotional trajectory of the song.

Overall Analysis

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, is characterized by a lush, cinematic melody that encapsulates John’s knack for crafting pop ballad choruses. Its base key is D Major, showcasing a mix of diatonic, dominant seventh, and borrowed chords. Its diverse chord progression is reflective of Elton John’s diverse influences, which include pop, rock, blues, and classical music.

Style Analysis

Elton John’s style is distinct for its blend of pop, rock, and classical influences. In “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” these influences manifest in the song’s complex chord progression and lush, emotive melody. The use of borrowed chords is also a hallmark of blues and jazz, evidencing these genres’ influence on John’s style.

Chords in the Chorus section of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John are:

[‘D’, ‘F#7’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘B7’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’, ‘F#’, ‘G’, ‘Bb’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’, ‘Bm7’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘A’, ‘D’]