Elton John – Rocket Man – Outro
Rocket Man < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The outro progression: ‘C’ – ‘G’ interpreted with roman numerals in the key of C Major is:
– C Major (I)
– G Major (V)
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C Major (‘I’) – G Major (‘V’)
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Similar Chord Progressions
The I – V (C – G) progression is commonly found in countless songs across different genres. Some notable examples would be:
– “Let It Be” by The Beatles – Here, the progression is often C – G – Am – F, but the C – G movement is still strongly apparent.
– “Wonderwall” by Oasis – The main progression is Em – G – D – A, but the G – D movement (which is I – V in the key of G Major) is an essential part of the progression.
– “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley – This song uses the same chords (C – G) but in the progression A – D – E – A, which in A major can be seen as IV – I, similar in concept to the I – V.
These progressions provide the same tonal stability and resolution seen in the Outro of “Rocket Man”.
Musical Analysis
This chord pattern creates a tonal center around the C Major, relying on the strong dominant relationship with G Major (V) to create tension and resolution, which provides a sense of finality to the number. While the earlier sections of the song play upon more complex emotional tones, this coda brings the song to a comfortable and familiar close.
Overall Analysis
“Rocket Man” by Elton John is primarily in the key of Bb minor (the verses and chorus), but its outro transposes to the key of C Major, which gives a sensation of resolution. The chord progression in the Outro is a simple two-chord progression (I – V), which is extremely common in all styles of music and impacts the listener with its familiarity and stability.
Style Analysis
Elton John is known for his sophisticated harmonic language that often involves modulations to different keys and the use of complex, jazzy chords. However, this outro shows a stripped-down, basic approach that relies on the time-tested I-V progression. It keeps the listener grounded after the intricate harmonic journey of the rest of the song.
What are the chords in: Elton John – Rocket Man – Outro?
[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G’]
