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“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 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.

“Your Song” by Elton John is an iconic pop ballad featuring a piano-driven accompaniment. Harmonically, the song displays rich and varied chord progressions within key of D major, though with a significant usage of borrowed chords and alterations that contribute to a unique and expressive harmonic language. There is a classical and cinematic air about this song establishing it as a flagship Elton John classic.

“Something” written by George Harrison from The Beatles majorly follows the key of C major and includes a few borrowed chords. There is a usage of secondary dominants and seventh chords which lend a harmonic complexity to the song. During the course of the song, the chords shift from the major scale to the parallel minor scale.

The song “Hallelujah” written by Leonard Cohen and popularly covered by Jeff Buckley is a solemn ballad consisting of poetic lyrics set to a haunting melody. This particular chord progression in Verse 4 highlights the song’s delicate balance between tension and resolution. The tonality revolves around C major, with deviations into other tonal areas, which adds complexity and emotional impact.

Daniel Caesar – Get You – Verse 4

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

– E minor (i)
– F# minor 7 (ii7)
– B minor (v)
– A7 (IV7)
– E minor (i)
– F# minor 7 (ii7)
– B minor (v)
– E minor (i)

“`F#m7, A7“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. D’Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel)

– B minor 7 (i7)
– Bb7 (bVII7)
– A7 (VI7)
– B minor 7 (i7)

2. Amy Winehouse – Love Is A Losing Game

– D minor (i)
– G minor 7 (iv7)
– D minor (i)
– E7 (II7)
– A7 (V7)
– D minor (i)

In both examples, the artists employ non-diatonic chords and borrow chords from parallel modes, much like the progression found in “Get You.” This creates a lush harmonic structure that is characteristic of R&B and neo-soul.

Musical Analysis

The progression starts with E minor (i), which naturally sets a minor tonality. The following F# minor 7 (ii7) chord, borrowed from the parallel dorian mode, offers a rich, jazzy, and smooth character to the progression. The B minor (v) adds a sense of tension before resolution, while the A7 (IV7) acts as a secondary dominant to lead back to E minor. The progression then repeats the i, ii7, v pattern but ends on the tonic (i) to complete the verse.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression in Daniel Caesar’s “Get You” from Verse 4 features a mixture of diatonic chords and borrowed chords from parallel modes. The progression showcases a smooth, soulful, and somewhat melancholic atmosphere that blends elements of R&B, jazz, and neo-soul.

Style Analysis

Daniel Caesar’s “Get You” pulls together elements from R&B, jazz, and neo-soul genres. The use of the minor ii7 chord borrowed from the parallel dorian mode is a common technique in jazz, providing a dreamy, harmonically rich character to the progression. The choice of chords, combined with his smooth vocal style and the easygoing groove, places this progression within the realm of R&B and neo-soul.

Chords in the Verse 4 section of Get You by Daniel Caesar are:

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