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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.

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” is a pop ballad written in the key of G major. The progression makes traditional use of the G major chord scale with a notable exception of a borrowed chord A/C#.

This iconic Britpop song predominantly features the use of traditional tonal harmony found in pop songs throughout the late 20th century, and the verse specifically recalls the harmonic patterns utilized in the 1950s and 60s. The defining feature of this song (as is the case with many Oasis tunes) is the use of returning, resounding repetitions of simple chord sequences.

“Heart Is A Drum” by Beck is a simple, yet emotional and effective piece, written in the key of C major. The chord progression of the verse revolves around the tonic (C) and the subdominant (Dm7), resulting in a gentle, down-to-earth feel, characteristic of Beck’s folk and alternative music influences.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is a psychedelic rock song often regarded as one of their finest works. It’s innovative from both a melodic and harmonic perspective, using complex chord structures, chromatic touches, and key changes. The song is primarily in the key of E major.

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:
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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’]