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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“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.

“I’m Still Standing” is a pop rock song by Elton John, from his 1983 album “Too Low For Zero”. The song is up-tempo, featuring energetic keyboard playing from Elton John, and has become one of his most enduring hits. The song is in the key of E Major.

Here’s the chord progression analysis of the coda and the full chord names with their roman numerals:

“Everything In Its Right Place” by Radiohead is a harmonically adventurous piece with an unconventional structure that features a mixture of modal and borrowed chords. The piece has an impressionistic quality influenced by classical lineage, while also regularly employing electronic and synthesized sounds.

The chord progression of “Say Goodbye” by Beck uses a combination of diatonic and borrowed chords within the key of G major. The verse features a total of 8 chords: G major, A# major, A minor, and C major. The use of a borrowed chord (A# major) adds an interesting twist to the progression and provides a unique color to the harmony.

“The Rip” by Portishead is a classic example of the Trip-hop genre. It features simple, yet effective harmonic progressions that offer a melancholic tone which is widely utilized in this genre. The distinctiveness of this particular chord progression lies on its subtle shifting between minor and major tonalities, as well as its use of borrowed chords.

Verse 1

Elton John – Dont Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

G (I), C/G (IV6), G (I), F (bVII), C (I), F/C (IV6), C (I), C/E (I6), F (IV), Bb/F (bII6), F (IV), G (V), C/G (I6), G (I), C/G (I6), G (I), G (I), C/G (IV6), G (I), F (bVII), C (I), F/C (IV6), C (I), C/E (I6), F (IV), Bb/F (bII6), F (IV), G (V), C/G (I6), G (I), C/G (I6), G (I), G (I), C/G (IV6), G (I), F (bVII), C (I), F/C (IV6), C (I), C/E (I6), F (IV), Bb/F (bII6), F (IV), G (V), C/G (I6), G (I), C/G (I6), G (I), G (I), C/G (IV6), G (I), F (bVII), C (I), F/C (IV6), C (I), C/E (I6), F (IV), Bb/F (bII6), F (IV), C/G (I6), G (I), G7 (V7).

Borrowed Chords:
“`
F (bVII, borrowed from the parallel minor, C minor)
Bb/F (bII6, borrowed from the parallel minor, C minor)
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Similar Chord Progressions

One artist that comes to mind with a similar style of rich harmonic progression is Billy Joel. “New York State of Mind” involves similar diatonic movements and “She’s Always a Woman” involves clever uses of borrowed and secondary chords that mirror Elton’s style.

“New York State of Mind” Verse Chord Progression:
Cmaj7 (I), Bb7 (bVII7), Ebmaj7 (bIIImaj7), Dm7 (IIm7), G7 (V7), C (I), F (IV), C (I), etc.

“She’s Always a Woman” Verse Chord Progression:
C (I), G/B (V6), Am (vi), Am/G (vi7), F (IV), G (V), etc.

Another song that can be considered with a similar progression to Elton John’s is John Lennon’s “Imagine”, which exhibits similar an amazing harmonic structure.
“Imagine” Verse Chord Progression:
C (I), Cmaj7 (Imaj7), F (IV), etc.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression is built around the key of C. The harmonic rhythm is occasionally quick, moving through one chord per beat in certain sections. The I – IV – I – bVII – I sequence laid over a steady 4/4 meter is the primary harmonic motif. This progression is classically Elton, using strong, functional harmonic movements with the occasional unexpected chord to add interest. The borrowed chords add a distinctive flavor to the progression, somewhat blurring the tonality at times.

Overall Analysis

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

Style Analysis

Elton John is widely renowned for his grand and dramatic musical style with a hint of gospel influences in the harmonies. The chord progression in “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” is not dissimilar to his popular compositions – it’s rich, filled with borrowed chords, and major/minor key switches. The underlying F – bVII is a feature often used in gospel music and gives the track its soulful ambiance.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Dont Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John are:

[‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘C/E’, ‘F’, ‘Bb/F’, ‘F’, ‘C/G’, ‘G’, ‘G7’]