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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Get You” by Daniel Caesar features a smooth and soulful chord progression that reflects the style of contemporary R&B and neo-soul. The chords provide a sense of warmth and sincerity that complements the song’s intimate lyrics. The progression is primarily diatonic, but with some borrowed chords, which adds an interesting color to the music.

The chord progression in Verse 2 of “Get You” by Daniel Caesar features some interesting and often non-diatonic chords. It provides a smooth and lush sound that complements the rest of the song. This progression shows influences from R&B and neo-soul genres, which often use extended and borrowed chords.

“Cant Buy Me Love” by The Beatles, is a song in the key of C Major, but it has an interesting harmonic structure, especially in the chorus. The song features a number of borrowed and secondary dominant chords to create tension that resolves into the tonic chord. The chorus’s progression can be seen as a series of descending minor thirds, with an unexpected shift to a ii-V-I progression which is quite popular in jazz music.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day, released in 2004, is an alt-rock anthem that largely follows a 4-chord progression throughout the song. The key signature of the song is E minor (derived from the root chord), and essentially all chords used in the song are diatonic, meaning they are derived from the scales of the key. The chorus shifts to a progression in C Major. However, it returns to E minor at the end.

“If You’re Wondering If I Want You To (I Want You To)” by Weezer has a chorus featuring a chord progression in the key of D major. The progression includes chords from both the major and minor scales while still primarily using diatonic chords from D major. The style of the progression is reminiscent of 90s alternative rock, and it finds similarity with other iconic chord progressions in rock music.

Daniel Caesar – Get You – Chorus

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Chord Progression

Em, F#m7, Bm, A7, Em, F#m7, Bm, A7

Chord Progression Analysis

Em (ii), F#m7 (iii7), Bm (vi), A7 (V7), Em (ii), F#m7 (iii7), Bm (vi), A7 (V7)
`Borrowed Chord: Em (ii borrowed from D minor)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers: Cmaj7 (I7), Bm7 (ii7), Em7 (iii7), A7 (V7), Dm7 (vi7), G7 (V7 of Cmaj7)
2. “Killing Me Softly” by Roberta Flack: Fmaj7 (I7), Gmaj7 (V7 of ii), Em7 (ii7), Am7 (vi7), Dm7 (vi7), G7 (V7 of Fmaj7)

Both “Lovely Day” and “Killing Me Softly” employ similar R&B/soul chord progressions utilizing borrowed chords, creating a lush harmony that evokes emotional warmth. The play between major and minor tonalities and smooth chord transitions are characteristic of these songs and create a connection to Caesar’s “Get You.”

Musical Analysis

The chord progression in “Get You” starts with a borrowed ii chord (Em) from the parallel minor key, D minor, immediately establishing a unique and evocative sound. This is followed by the iii7 (F#m7), vi (Bm), and V7 (A7) chords, all diatonic to D major, giving the progression a sense of familiarity, while still retaining its distinctive color. The progression then repeats, reinforcing the overall harmony.

The use of the borrowed chord (Em) creates a mix of both minor and major tonalities, which contributes to the song’s warm and emotional atmosphere. The presence of the iii7 (F#m7), vi (Bm), and V7 (A7) chords provides a sense of resolution and direction to the progression, with the V7 chord functioning as a dominant, driving the tension towards the next repetition of the progression.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

“Get You” is a contemporary R&B and soul ballad, evoking the classic feel of timeless artists such as Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye, but with updated production and arrangements. Caesar’s delivery is smooth and heartfelt, his voice blending with the instruments to create a rich and enveloping atmosphere. The combination of the soulful chord progression, borrowed chords, and Caesar’s silky vocals project a nostalgic and emotional feel that is characteristic of the genre.

Chords in the Chorus section of Get You by Daniel Caesar are:

Em, F#m7, Bm, A7, Em, F#m7, Bm, A7