Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody – Outro
Bohemian Rhapsody < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Eb’, ‘Bb/D’, ‘Cm’, ‘Bdim7’, ‘Cm’, ‘Bdim7’, ‘Cm’, ‘Bb7’, ‘Eb’, ‘D’, ‘Gm’, ‘Ab’, ‘Eb’, ‘Cm’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Abm’, ‘Ab/Bb’, ‘Eb’, ‘Bb’, ‘F’, ‘Abdim’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F’]
Chord Progression Analysis
“`
Eb Major (‘I’),
Bb Major/D (‘V/I’),
Cm (‘vi’),
Bdim7 (‘vii°7’),
Cm (‘vi’),
Bdim7 (‘vii°7’),
Cm (‘vi’),
Bb7 (‘V7’),
Eb Major (‘I’),
D Major (‘SubV/mii’),
Gm (‘iii’),
Ab Major (‘IV’),
Eb Major (‘I’),
Cm (‘vi’),
Gm (‘iii’),
Cm (‘vi’),
Gm (‘iii’),
Cm (‘vi’),
Ab Minor (‘iv’),
Ab Major/Bb (‘IV/V’),
Eb Major (‘I’),
Bb Major (‘V’),
F Major (‘II’),
Abdim (‘VII dim’),
Gm7 (‘iii7’),
F Major (‘II’)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
1. ‘Life on Mars’ by David Bowie also makes use of similar drastic modulations and borrowed chords.
2. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin has a similar progression, especially in the part where it modulates from A minor to A major.
3. ‘Because’ by The Beatles where the chromatic and borrowed chords used throughout have a comparable feel.
These example songs share the unpredictable yet structured progression found in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with their own unique twists.
Musical Analysis
This chord progression in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ starts firmly in the key of Eb Major, with a strong I-V (Eb-Bb/D) movement setting the tonal center. The sequence of Cm and Bdim7 cadences also reinforces the tonality of Eb major. However, the D Major chord presents a modulation, briefly setting the tonality in the realm of the parallel minor (Eb minor). Following this, the progression modulates back to the original key, shown by the Gm and Ab Major chords.
The subsequent sequence of Gm and Cm adds tension before a deceptive resolution to Ab Minor, which is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key. The progression concludes on the I chord (Eb Major), followed by a shift to the II chord (F Major). The use of Abdim, Gm7, and F Major enriches the harmonic texture while creating a sense of an impending resolution.
Overall Analysis
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.
Style Analysis
Queen perfectly merges rock with classical influences in this chord progression. They weren’t afraid to use non-diatonic chords and modulations for a more dramatic, engaging sound. The mix of major and minor chords, the use of borrowed chords, and quick modulations are testament to the complexity and daring nature of Queen’s songwriting.
What are the chords in: Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody – Outro?
[‘Eb’, ‘Bb/D’, ‘Cm’, ‘Bdim7’, ‘Cm’, ‘Bdim7’, ‘Cm’, ‘Bb7’, ‘Eb’, ‘D’, ‘Gm’, ‘Ab’, ‘Eb’, ‘Cm’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Abm’, ‘Ab/Bb’, ‘Eb’, ‘Bb’, ‘F’, ‘Abdim’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F’]
