Elton John – I Guess Thats Why They Call It The Blues – Chorus
I Guess Thats Why They Call It The Blues < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Em’, ‘F’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Here is the chorus chord progression with the full chord names and their corresponding Roman numerals:
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C Major (I)
G Major (V)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A minor (vi)
C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
D Major (II) – Borrowed
F Major (IV)
G Major (V)
C Major (I)
E minor (iii)
F Major (IV)
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As seen above, all chords fit into the key of C Major, with the exception of D Major (II), which may be considered a borrowed chord from the parallel key of C minor.
Similar Chord Progressions
Similar chord progressions can be found in many songs by other artists. For example, “The Scientist” by Coldplay follows a similar chord progression in the key of C Major with the regular IV-V-I progression.
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Db Major (IV)
Ab Major (I)
Bb minor (ii)
F minor (vi)
Db Major (IV)
Ab Major (I)
Bb minor (ii)
F minor (vi)
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Another example can be found in “Let it Be” by The Beatles, with a similar progression and use of a borrowed chord from a parallel key.
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C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
F Major (IV)
C major (I)
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Overall, “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” demonstrates a masterful use of traditional progressions mixed with interesting borrowed chords to create a deeply emotive and effective chorus.
Musical Analysis
The chorus, starting on the C Major chord, revolves around the I-IV-V, reflecting the standard major key progression. The progression from I-V-IV (C-G-F) gives the song a grounded and satisfying sense of familiarity common among pop and rock music. The use of A minor (vi) introduces a minor tone into the chorus, adding a touch of melancholy. The D Major chord (II) is interesting as this is not directly part of the C Major scale, this borrowed chord adds tension and anticipation, leading back into the F Major.
Overall Analysis
“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
Style Analysis
The style of this progression, particularly the use of the IV-V-I and VI-IV-V-I resolution is typical of Elton John’s style. The borrowed II chord creates a touch of blues in the progression, reflecting the song’s title and giving it depth.
What are the chords in: Elton John – I Guess Thats Why They Call It The Blues – Chorus?
[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Em’, ‘F’]
