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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Dont Stop Me Now” by Queen has a key of F major. The song takes you on a journey of a unique blend of chords and progression. Freddie Mercury and the entire band are known for their diverse songwriting abilities, apparent in ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’. The chord progression in Verse 2 hints a story-telling stalwart of pop music production – the major-to-relative-minor movement (I to vi), with some interesting additions of minor seven, major seven and diminished seventh chords, giving it a more sophisticated feel.

The chord progression in the famous outro of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ illustrates the eccentricity Queen was known for throughout their discography. This section consists of bold modulations, chromatic chord progressions, and borrowed chords, showing off Freddie Mercury’s compositional sophistication and creativity. It’s evident that Mercury’s influence for this song came from various musical genres, including progressive rock, classical, and operatic music.

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“Here Comes the Sun” written by The Beatles is a seminal work from the Beatles’ output in pop music. The piece is composed in a modified strophic form with a circular pattern augmented with a repetitive and distinct bridge that modulates in key. The use of major chords and open voicings gives the song a sunny and positive feel, hence its title. It’s also notable for its mixed use of diatonic and borrowed chords, contributing to its unique sound.

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With a Little Help from My Friends’ exists in a rich harmonic landscape typical of the Beatles. Here, we can see signature moves like mixing major/minor tonalities, borrowed chords, and unconventional harmonic progressions.

“The Long And Winding Road” by The Beatles presents us with a classic example of their innovative approach to harmony and composition. Drawing from various sources of influence, the song incorporates elements of traditional pop ballad form with a hint of the Baroque harmonic palette. This song is an excellent study in complex harmony and modulation within a pop music context, a trait that underpins much of The Beatles’ later work.

Queen – Dont Stop Me Now – Bridge

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Chord Progression

[‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F/A’, ‘Bb’, ‘Bdim’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
F (‘I’)
F7 (‘V7/IV’)
Bb (‘IV’)
Gm7 (‘ii7’)
D7 (‘V7/V’)
Gm (‘ii’)
D7 (‘V7/V’)
Gm (‘ii’)
Gm7 (‘ii7’)
F/A (‘I6’)
Bb (‘IV’)
Bdim (‘vii°/V’)
C (‘V’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

You’ll find similar chord structures in Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind”. The usage of I-ii-V progressions, secondary dominants, and borrowed chords to create a jazzy and rich texture align with the mood of Queen’s bridge in “Don’t Stop Me Now”.
“`
Cmaj7 (‘I’)
Bm7 (‘ii7’)
E7 (‘V7/VI’)
Am (‘VI’)
D7 (‘V7/V’)
Gm7 (‘ii’)
C7 (‘V7/IV’)
Fmaj7 (‘IV’)
Am/E (‘VI6’)
Dm7 (‘ii7’)
G7 (‘V7’)
Cmaj7 (‘I’)
“`

Musical Analysis

Queen creates a jazzy, upbeat atmosphere by incorporating harmony that’s common in jazz and popular music, such as II-V-I progressions (D7-Gm-C) and the use of dominant sevenths (F7, D7) and minor sevenths (Gm7). The use of borrowed chords, specifically the secondary dominants (like the V7/IV=F7, and the V7/V=D7), adds a tension and resolution that helps to propel the progression forward. Furthermore, the Bdim, a diminished vii from the key of G minor (V of C), is used as a leading tone into C, creating a smooth modulation.

Overall Analysis

This particular section is mostly based in the key of F major and highlights Freddie Mercury’s love for moving from the classical I-ii-V progression to the jazz-inspired I-IV-ii-V, often followed by a jazzy II-V-I. In this part of the song, you will find some interesting use of borrowed chords and leading tones, contributing to the chromaticism that enriches the progression.

Style Analysis

This progression showcases the typical Queen sound: a blending of rock, pop, and classical styles with a touch of jazz thrown in, often revolving around major keys with an occasional surprise from borrowed chords. This creates a catchy and memorable hook, characteristic of Queen’s style.

Chords in the Bridge section of Dont Stop Me Now by Queen are:

[‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F/A’, ‘Bb’, ‘Bdim’, ‘C’]