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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The piece “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars showcases a common pop ballad structure that follows a typical 4-chord progression with common tone substitution as well as some chords borrowed from the relative minor. Its simplicity is one of its strengths as it allows the focus to fall on Bruno’s vocals and the lyrics, which matches the direct, emotional content of the song effectively.

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“When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars is in the key of C major. The song relies heavily on diatonic chords and uses a structure that is common in popular music, especially ballads. It follows conventional diatonic chord progressions and also incorporates non-diatonic chords for added tension and resolution.

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“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails works within a minimalist musical framework, where a few shiftless chords and tension-filled pentatonic melodies define the song. It inculcates a dark atmospheric mood through its instrumentation and harmony. The repetitive and consistent use of the Cm7 chord creates a haunting, pulsating groove that add to the atmospheric layer of the song.

David Bowie’s song, “Space Oddity,” is typically interpreted as being in the key of C Major. It’s an interesting song harmonically, featuring not just Primary Triads and Secondary Dominants but also uses Borrowed Chords, non-functional harmony, and chromatic chord changes. The kind of harmonic movement might be called Bowie’s deviation from the traditional harmonic patterns, which is part of what gives his music its characteristic ‘alien’ vibe. This progression has a more modal feeling due to the use of borrowed chords and the shifted tonal center.

The verse of “All I Need” by Radiohead features a simple chord progression consisting of three main chords: C, Em, and G. It alternates between these three chords for most of the progression, with some occasional repetition of the C chord. This progression provides a consistent harmonic foundation for the vocal melody and sets a mostly stable and melancholic mood.

Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Em/B’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The specific chord progression for the first verse you provided is:
Am, C, Dm, G, G7, C, Em/B, Am, C, Dm, G, C.

For ease of understanding, here are both the full names of the chords and their Roman numerals in the key of C major:

– A minor (‘vi)
– C major (‘I)
– D minor (‘ii)
– G major (‘V)
– G7 (‘V7)
– C major (‘I)
– E minor over B (‘iii/vi)
– A minor (‘vi)
– C major (‘I)
– D minor (‘ii)
– G major (‘V)
– C major (‘I)

The borrowed chord in this progression is Em/B since the Em/B doesn’t naturally occur in the key of C major.
“`bash
Borrowed chord: Em/B
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Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in the song “Let It Be” by The Beatles. The progression used in its chorus is C – G – Am – F. In Roman numeral notation, this is I-V-vi-IV in the key of C major, which is a simple progression that is widely used through many genres.

Chord progression from ‘Let It Be’ by The Beatles:
C major (‘I), G major (‘V), A minor (‘vi), F major (‘IV).

Musical Analysis

In terms of musical theory, this chord progression follows common pop-song patterns. It starts with a vi-I-ii-V progression – a variation of the popular I–V–vi–IV progression, adding a more complex sound with the help of the seventh chord (G7). The use of Em/B functions as a sort of pivot chord, added for color and to pave a smooth transition back to Am. It’s also worth noting that the use of Dm and G major are important to establish tension and resolution within the progression, which then resolves back to the C major.

Overall Analysis

“When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars is in the key of C major. It is a ballad with a piano-led instrumentation, backed by Bruno’s powerful and emotive vocals. The melody and chords are relatively simple, but the lingering tone and the poignant lyrics create an emotionally resonant track. A common feature in this piece, as well as many pop songs in general, is the use of borrowed chords.

Style Analysis

Bruno Mars often draws from older musical styles for their timeless appeal, bringing in more traditional instrumentation and vintage chord progressions. This melody and progression could easily belong to a soul ballad from the ’60s or ’70s. There’s a strong sense of narrative in both the chords and the lyrics, with the minor chords highlighting feelings of regret and longing.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars are:

[‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Em/B’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘Dm’, ‘G’, ‘C’]