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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John is brilliantly harmonized, showcasing the great musical arrangement skills of John at his best. Primarily, the song is based in the key of C Major and uses a variety of moving bass lines over mostly diatonic chords in the verses and choruses. There are some key modulations and borrowed chords that give the harmony a rich and complex quality which sets it apart from many contemporary pop songs.

Verse

“I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues” is a well-known hit by Elton John from the album “Too Low for Zero” released in 1983. The song is a blend of pop, rock and blues styles and showcases Elton John’s proficiency in blending different music genres. The verse uses a straightforward I-V-vi-IV progression which is a common progression in pop music.

The Chorus’s

“It’s A Fire” by Portishead is a song characterized by its frequent modulations and use of borrowed chords, making it a considerable complexity in terms of harmony. It features transition from key centers and borrowed chords from other keys, which creates tension and resolution creating the signature moody and intense atmosphere Portishead is known for.

The chord progression in the chorus of Radiohead’s “Knives Out” is an interesting and unconventional one, making use of some borrowed chords and a mix of major and minor tonalities. The overall style of the song can be described as alternative rock with some influences of jazz harmony and chromaticism, creating a unique and moody atmosphere. The progression is mostly diatonic, but it also incorporates some borrowed chords from parallel modes to add color and tension.

The chord progression in the chorus of Muse’s “Apocalypse Please” consists of a mix of diatonic chords and borrowed chords from the parallel major and minor keys. The progression features strong harmonic movement with a pivot modulation. Muse is known for their dramatic, often symphonic rock sound, and this progression is no exception in showing off their signature style. The progression also shares some similarities with other artists’ works in both structure and harmonic content.

Elton John – Dont Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘D7/F#’, ‘C/G’, ‘F/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Ab6’, ‘Bb’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘D7/F#’, ‘C/G’, ‘F/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Ab6’, ‘Bb’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is an analysis of the repeating chorus sequence and the Roman numerals (relative to the key of C Major).

“`
C (I) – C/Bb (I7) – F/A (IV6) – D7/F# (V7 of ii with 3rd in bass) – C/G (I64) – F/C (IV64) – G (V) – C (I)
C/Bb (I7) – F/A (IV6) – Dm (ii) – C/E (I6) – F (IV) – C/G (I64) – G (V) – C (I)
C/Bb (I7) – F/A (IV6) – Ab6 (bVI6, borrowed from C minor) – Bb (bVII, also borrowed from minor) – C (I)
“`
Note that C/Bb, described as I7 here, is more accurately a chromatically descending bass line within the tonic chord.

Similar Chord Progressions

The progression employed in this track is unique and shows Elton John’s specific style. However, there are other songs which have similarities. The sequential use of diatonic and chromatic chords can be found in the Beatles’ music, for instance, they frequently used chromatic mediant relationships, secondary dominant chords and borrowed chords, which is reflected in songs like “In My Life” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. You can also consider Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” for the use of rich and inventive harmonic structures. Still, these are not exact matches but share some stylistic consistencies.

Musical Analysis

The use of seventh and sixth chords, inverted chords, and borrowed chords from the parallel minor aid in creating a sense of tension, release, and musical interest through an otherwise relatively straightforward progression. The descending bass line in the first couplet of the chorus creates a ‘falling’ or ‘sinking’ sensation which ties into the theme of despair in the lyrics.

Overall Analysis

“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” is a pop song by Elton John from the album “Caribou,” released in 1974. The song is set in the key of C Major, with some interesting chord changes and borrowed chords that are rich and reflective of Elton John’s unique harmonic style. The chorus especially impresses with unexpected chord shifts, demonstrating a sophisticated songwriting technique.

Style Analysis

Elton John often displays a fondness for complex chord changes and sophisticated harmonies in his music. This song continues this trend with its unexpected shifts, like the transition to the D7/F#, typically used as secondary dominant to the ii chord, and the borrowed chords.

Chords in the Chorus section of Dont Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John are:

[‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘D7/F#’, ‘C/G’, ‘F/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Ab6’, ‘Bb’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘D7/F#’, ‘C/G’, ‘F/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Dm’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C/Bb’, ‘F/A’, ‘Ab6’, ‘Bb’, ‘C’]