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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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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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“When I Was Your Man” is a pop power ballad with a chord progression that tends to lean towards traditional pop and soul structures. It’s set in the key of C Major. However, the song has a few interesting deviations from the standard pop song structure.

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Generally, the chord progression follows the conventional guidelines of western music, utilizing strong resolution from B (V) to E (I). However, it also employs some harmony techniques very typical in pop/rock music, such as the use of slash chords and chord inversions (A/E, F#m7/E) to add harmonic interest. In addition, it incorporates chromatic mediant relationships (E to C#m) to create a sense of progression.

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“Come Together” by The Beatles, like many other Beatles songs, is known for its unique melody and innovative chord progressions. The song is written in the key of D minor and employs frequent use of bluesy pentatonic scale patterns. The meter is 4/4 (common time). The song is characterized by the use of common chords, with the exception of the Bm and Bm/A chords which are noteworthy.

“Somewhere Only We Know” composed by Keane, is a pop-ballad that is based in the key of A Minor. It makes use of both diatonic and borrowed chords in a modern pop style progression that creates an oscillating feel, with repetition for familiarity and simple melody drawn from the underlying chords.

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’]