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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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.

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.

“Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear uses a repetitive verse structure that has a fairly common, major-oriented progression, but develops interest by alternating the exact sequence of chords that it employs. This gives the song a haunting but familiar atmosphere. The mixture of minor and major chords, along with the presence of a borrowed chord, creates tension and release within each verse.

“Eleanor Rigby” is known for its unusual and innovative use of the Aeolian mode, otherwise known as the natural minor scale, which is reflected in the chord progression Em – C. The song incorporates string arrangements and has a narrative, storytelling style. Unlike most pop and rock songs of the time, it does not contain drums or guitars. The chord utilization is simple with only two chords used throughout, Em and C, but it nevertheless creates a unique and haunting soundscape.

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The given chord progression is from the verse 3 of the song “The Good Life” by Weezer. The song is in the key of G major and features a mix of diatonic chords from the G major scale and a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (G minor).

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Daniel Caesar – Get You – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
Em (vi)
F#m7 (v7)
Bm (i)
A7 (V7/♭VII)
Em (vi)
F#m7 (v7)
Bm (i)
A7 (V7/♭VII)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. D’Angelo – “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”
“`
Bm7 (i7)
Gmaj7 (♭VI7)
F#m7 (v7)
E (IV)
A7 (V7/♭VII)
“`

2. John Mayer – “Gravity”
“`
C#m7 (i7)
A7 (♭VI7/V7)
E (V)
B7 (II7)
Aadd9 (IVadd9)
“`

3. Erykah Badu – “On & On”
“`
Em7 (i7)
Am7 (iv7)
Bb (♭V)
Gmaj7 (III7)
“`

Musical Analysis

The progression starts with the vi chord (E minor), moving to the v7 chord (F# minor 7), which enhances the depth and complexity of the harmonic structure. The i chord (B minor) establishes the tonality of the piece, and the V7/♭VII chord (A7) is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor, providing a strong pull to resolve back to the vi chord (Em) and start the cycle again. This “borrowed chord” adds a distinct flavor to the progression.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in Verse 3 of Daniel Caesar’s “Get You” consists of a mix of diatonic chords and borrowed chords from the parallel minor. The overall tonality is in the B minor key. The smooth, soulful sound of the progression is achieved through the use of minor chords, mixed with major seventh chords, and the cycle of fifths progression in some measures.

Style Analysis

Daniel Caesar’s “Get You” is an example of a contemporary R&B and neo-soul sound. This style is characterized by lush harmonies and the prominent use of smooth, extended chords, with a warm and intimate vibe. The borrowed chords, sevenths, and modal mixture contribute to the rich harmonic texture that is typical of this music genre.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Get You by Daniel Caesar are:

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