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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 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.

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.

The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix is a rock ballad with elements of blues, featuring a unique and expressive chord progression. The song is in the key of F major and the verse progression consists of 25 chords. The progression is largely diatonic, but includes chromatic lines and borrowed chords, which give the piece a rather unpredictable yet emotive quality.

The song “Penny Lane” written by the Beatles is in the key of A major. The structure of Verse 4, specifically, has a very effective use of both diatonic (belonging naturally to the key) and borrowed chords (taken from a different key or mode). They have incorporated secondary dominants, pivot modulation, and modal interchange which reflect their knowledge of musical theory and compositional skills.

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